Although gratitude might be expressed through an outward action, it is more of an internal experience than outward bound actions. To express that moment of gratitude and to be with it and pause with it is slowness in gratitude. Let me explain this with a story.
When I landed in Japan for the first time and we were on a bus from Narita Airport to Tokyo, I could see the entire experience right from getting off the aircraft through immigration to collecting the bags, buying a coffee and some snack despite language barrier to getting on that bus. I wondered how despite having vast differences in our language, way of being, our gestures, actions, there was something human for me on the receiving side. People were so kind, calm and helpful. Fast forward to about eight days, and I’m sitting at the Kansai Airport waiting for my flight to complete this trip of Japan. I distinctly remember that I found a corner to sit by and to recollect the last few days unfolding in front of me in a mystical and bewildered manner. I am 'being' in complete gratitude for this trip. It had opened me a different world. Things here were done in mindfulness, each gesture of people here resonated their being in the moment, their involvement. And, I could not hold my emotions internally. I was full of joy at that moment. It was purely an internal experience. And that has remained vividly with me.
…right from getting off the aircraft through immigration to collecting the bags, buying a coffee and some snack despite language barrier to getting on that bus. I wondered how despite having vast differences in our language, way of being, our gestures, actions, there was something human for me on the receiving side.
Every time someone subscribes to Thirteen on www.creating13.com a thank you note automatically goes out to them for subscribing. It’s a note of gratitude. It’s a pre-written message. However, to me real gratitude happens when every now and then I log in to the account and I find a few new subscribers, often I would not even know them personally, but taking out time to pause, think about them, experiencing being grateful to them not only reinforces the belief in our cause of Thirteen, but it also gives me an opportunity to connect and be with another human being – our subscriber. There is a relationship built here. To me, this is slowness in that moment.
To complete this post, I can only reiterate a quote a friend of mine narrated to me right after a few minutes on landing in Japan. The quote went something like this: Zen is not about thinking of God while peeling the potatoes. Zen is about peeling the potatoes.
Zen is not about thinking of God while peeling the potatoes. Zen is about peeling the potatoes.
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