Nothing Makes Sense

There's a picture of two monks sitting next to each other. They've just finished meditating. After a moment, one monk with a puzzled look on his face says, "Nothing makes sense." The other monk smiles and says, "It does, doesn't it?"

It took me a minute to think about this. To truly grasp the cleverness of this picture and to see the wisdom behind this joke. Nothing makes sense. Sure does, doesn't it. At times in life, it can seem that we move way too fast. Many moments pass us by. So much commotion. So much hustle and bustle. We may wonder if we'll ever find peace. If we can stay at our center amidst the chaos. If we can be in the eye of the storm. We can find balance and harmony. Finding our inner guidance system.

What can we expect from a life of "everything"? When everything is constantly in your face, it can be hard to focus. When everything is fighting for your attention, it can zap your energy. When everything is wanting to be on your schedule it can tax your time. The build up of "things" can give us more anxiety, worry, stress, and frustration. Yet, it seems to me that less is always more. The great paradox proved right time and time again.

There is a true genius to be found in simplicity. Taking things one step at a time. One day at a time. One block at a time. Segmenting things like this, and crunching them down into small bites can give us more freedom. There was once a meditation student who "tried" to meditate. Feeling like they could not control their thoughts, they complained to their teacher.

"Master, I don't think I'm doing it right! "

"There's nothing to do." Said the teacher.

Sometimes there's nothing to do at all. We get scared when we have nothing to do. Especially when we have lived out lives of constant busyness. But when there's nothing to do, that can be the best position ever for reflection, contemplation, and meditation. We may find ourselves in a wonderful state of change. Taking time to be the caterpillar in the cocoon before becoming a beautiful butterfly.

It can be a wonderful thing to be in nothingness. Nothing makes sense when life is moving so fast. Embracing nothing, sitting and allowing yourself to do nothing makes perfect sense. It can be awkward and frightening for some. But taking time to just be still with yourself. Finding solace in solitude and silence. You and the Universe. You and all that is. Becoming your own friend again will save you time and move you forward.

“Sometimes the most important thing to do is to do nothing.” ~Debasish Mridha

In my life, I have had the greatest realizations in quiet moments. Moments where it seemed that nothing else mattered. Moments without worry or stress. Without anxiety or fear. Just me, myself, and my thoughts. Our thoughts are always moving. Flitting about in our minds. Telling us we need to do one thing or another. We need not fear our thoughts. We don't need to control them, but we can make sure they do not control us. With this practice we can invite more awareness. With this work we can be more alive.

Take it from me that you can do it. Less can be so much more in your life. Less noise can become more silence. This can lead to more peace. Less thoughts and chatter can become more energy. This can lead to more creativity. Less material things can become more space. This can lead to more productivity. Less tasks can become more time. This can lead to better relationships with yourself and with others.

There is a wisdom that can be found in nothing. Becoming like the smiling monk who has come to his own epiphany. His own realization. That when the world is rumbling and rambling this way and that. Constant occupation can lead us away from ourselves. Take a deep breath. Embrace the now moment. Find that place deep within your heart where nothing makes sense.