Happy Thanksgiving, My Dear Friends.Early this morning the guy who checks the water meter for the Zendo shut off the water and forgot to turn it back on. So I was left without water all day. Everyone else on the street had water so it seemed there might be a big problem like the roots of a tree breaking through the main pipe somewhere between the street and the Zendo. This might take days or a week or more to find. I was settling in to what it would be like to live for a week or so with no water. This is not so different from how many in the Third World live. No showers. No washing dishes. Trying to find another arrangement for using the toilet, etc.
Late tonight the guy realized his mistake, apologized and turned it back on. Water! Yay!! I was and am so grateful. I am doubly grateful because I now know what it is like to live without the water I had been taking for granted. And now I don’t take it for granted. This is a huge gift.
If you are having trouble finding things to be really grateful for this holiday or any day, I have a wonderful suggestion. Tomorrow morning, go out and shut off the main water supply to your house. Imagine that you will never have water to your house again or that it will be off for a month or more. Think about the new arrangements you will have to live under in this situation. No running water. No showers. No toilet, etc. If you need to go further. Empty your house of all food. Give your money and credit card to a friend to hold for you, just for the day. Keep 50 cents for yourself. Now decide how you will eat for the day with just 50 cents. It will take some decision-making. Imagine that this is will be for the next week or month.
Do you think you will be grateful when your friend gives you your credit card and cash back the next day so you can buy something to eat? Do you think you will be grateful for water coming into your house so you can shower and use the toilet? I assure you you will be. You will be very grateful. You will be doubly blessed. You will no longer take for granted things you have been taking for granted for so long.
Does it seem surprising that people in the Third World who have so little often seem so much happier than people the First World who have so much? In the Third World sometimes just finding something to eat for the day is enough to make their day. Here in the West, we complain if our lights go out or there is no water coming into our house. We have lost our perspective. We live in a fantasy world disconnected from life and reality. And this fantasy world is encouraged and promoted by our society. Is it any wonder we are not happy or grateful?
If you are already grateful, this is wonderful. You are seeing life as it is. We all have so much to be grateful for. Our breath. The beating of our heart. But if you are having trouble feeling this deep gratitude for life, try my little experiment. I think it will help. Go for just one day without the things you have been taking for granted. I think you will find all the gratitude you need.
I am very grateful for this kind and generous Bhodhisattva who shut my house water off this morning. And then waited until I had learned this important lesson before turning it back on again.
Happy Thanksgiving.
May your heart overflow with gratitude for all the things you had taken for granted in your life. For then you will be truly blessed. It is not what we have that makes us happy. It is what we are grateful for.
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