<p>Once an Australian travelled to Thailand to meet a great Buddhist Master. There were too many people waiting to meet the master along with him. Realising that he wouldn’t be able to meet the great man, the Australian walked away.<br /><br /></p>.<p> In the compound, he saw monks sweeping patiently. Impulsively, he picked up a broom and started to sweep. He lost count of time. Virtually in a trance, he felt a soft touch on his shoulder. He turned and…there stood the Master, who said to him, “If you are sweeping, do it with all your heart.” This beautiful lesson changed the Australian’s life.<br /><br />Interestingly, the humble broom has come into its own in recent times. Held in the hands of the hopeful and the powerful, it symbolises cleaning, both literally and figuratively. I find sweeping to be a deeply meditative activity. When you sweep slowly and surely, the rhythmic movements gather and expel all the dust of long-held stress and a wonderful, relaxing wave washes through you.<br /><br />Of course, sweeping is easier if you have strong, flexible knees.Here is a tip: Stationary cycling for 20 minutes a day revs up the circulation of the synovial fluid, which lubricates knee joints and keeps them inflammation-free. <br /><br /> And what if we use this new dynamic to cleanse our mind of fear, insecurity, inequality and raise the dignity and health quotient of all? <br /><br />For sure, as much as acts of corruption cause mental corrosion, so does a continual current of cynicism against the corrupt cause mental agony, making our neurons overspark and erode. And as our sages have always pointed out, the ‘us’ and ‘them’ attitude numbs the heart and weakens it.<br /><br />So, it’s time you pour new belief-energy into your circuits until it illuminates the inner darkness. Here’s how you can do it, by believing that:<br /><br />Nobody is higher or lower; we are all one, each doing our best. The more I choose to see this truth, the more I see it and the more our collective magnificence shines out. <br /><br /> ather than demolish cynically, I choose to construct something useful, something beautiful and nurture trust in my lifespace. Honesty nurtures clarity in mind and cleans the heart. <br /><br /> There is enough for everybody. And if another gets more than me, I revel in his or her happiness. <br /><br />With every success and every setback, I am more. With every setback, I learn to fear less and live larger. To rise, I really don’t need to push another down, just continue working with all my heart and be propelled upwards. As Rudyard Kipling once said, “I always prefer to believe the best of everybody. It saves so much trouble.”<br /><br /></p>
<p>Once an Australian travelled to Thailand to meet a great Buddhist Master. There were too many people waiting to meet the master along with him. Realising that he wouldn’t be able to meet the great man, the Australian walked away.<br /><br /></p>.<p> In the compound, he saw monks sweeping patiently. Impulsively, he picked up a broom and started to sweep. He lost count of time. Virtually in a trance, he felt a soft touch on his shoulder. He turned and…there stood the Master, who said to him, “If you are sweeping, do it with all your heart.” This beautiful lesson changed the Australian’s life.<br /><br />Interestingly, the humble broom has come into its own in recent times. Held in the hands of the hopeful and the powerful, it symbolises cleaning, both literally and figuratively. I find sweeping to be a deeply meditative activity. When you sweep slowly and surely, the rhythmic movements gather and expel all the dust of long-held stress and a wonderful, relaxing wave washes through you.<br /><br />Of course, sweeping is easier if you have strong, flexible knees.Here is a tip: Stationary cycling for 20 minutes a day revs up the circulation of the synovial fluid, which lubricates knee joints and keeps them inflammation-free. <br /><br /> And what if we use this new dynamic to cleanse our mind of fear, insecurity, inequality and raise the dignity and health quotient of all? <br /><br />For sure, as much as acts of corruption cause mental corrosion, so does a continual current of cynicism against the corrupt cause mental agony, making our neurons overspark and erode. And as our sages have always pointed out, the ‘us’ and ‘them’ attitude numbs the heart and weakens it.<br /><br />So, it’s time you pour new belief-energy into your circuits until it illuminates the inner darkness. Here’s how you can do it, by believing that:<br /><br />Nobody is higher or lower; we are all one, each doing our best. The more I choose to see this truth, the more I see it and the more our collective magnificence shines out. <br /><br /> ather than demolish cynically, I choose to construct something useful, something beautiful and nurture trust in my lifespace. Honesty nurtures clarity in mind and cleans the heart. <br /><br /> There is enough for everybody. And if another gets more than me, I revel in his or her happiness. <br /><br />With every success and every setback, I am more. With every setback, I learn to fear less and live larger. To rise, I really don’t need to push another down, just continue working with all my heart and be propelled upwards. As Rudyard Kipling once said, “I always prefer to believe the best of everybody. It saves so much trouble.”<br /><br /></p>
