Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Coffee House Tao


I never cease to be amazed at the things that can happen at the coffee mega giant. I have met and conversed with some very interesting people. I have made some good friends over a mug 'o latte. It is the greatest place to find a variety of thoughts about politics and all the things in between to religion.

One of my favorite places to sit is out on the cobblestone patio. There are tables and umbrellas and on a warm, sunny day, if you are there long enough, many people will pass through and stop at your table. On any given Sunday you could end up talking about many things. This past Sunday was just such a day. I had intended to mostly read and write, but ended up having a long discussion with the table next to me about the universe and then people that I know, or either work with, would sit down for 20-30 minute intervals and the topics would change and mutate into something else. A grand time.

This past Monday I read an article that I felt pretty passionately about and was going to use it as my next blogging topic,, quality of life and death with dignity. Very serious stuff. I brought the paper home and sat it on my desk in preparation of the next time I would sit down and type. Then I went to work on Tuesday. That morning I started at 5:00AM and around 7:00 one of our newer regulars came in to get a french press. This is what he usually drinks. I told him that it would be a few minutes, as I was a bit busy, and then I began to prepare and time it. It takes 4 minutes to steep and then you press it and pour. I walked it over to his table and told him there would be no charge since it had taken me a tad too long since there were just 2 of us working at the time.

He was reading a book and I asked what it was. "Change Your Thoughts- Change Your Life. Living the Wisdom of the Tao. By Wayne Dyer. I told him that I wanted to write that down because it sounded like something that I might like to read. About 10-15 minutes later he came up to the counter and told me that he wanted me to have his copy. It was a brand new book!! I said that I couldn't take it and he told me,"You will see why I gave it to you after you get in to it."

I was really surprised. What an awesome gesture and really cool gift. Without even beginning to read it I know that I will also have to pass it along at the end. So, when I sat down for my break I opened it up and read a few lines that hit me between the eye right away. "Let the world unfold without always attempting to figure it all out." I am one of those people that has always had to know the "whys" about everything. When things happen I always want to try and get to the bottom or know why they have happened. I drive John crazy sometimes. I imagine that life could be much less stressful if we just sat back and enjoyed the ride instead of always trying to figure it all out. I know that I have probably missed many golden moments by not being in them as they happened, but tried to figure out the details.

"Judge less and listen more." How powerful is that? I try, but I know that I am still a work in progress where that is concerned! Hard to do. Last, "Accept whatever comes. Encounter the mystery within without labeling, explaining, or defending." Something that I have started to practice, but still have much work to do in this area. It is hard not to get involved in these activities when you get tired and are overworked etc. Most times the words are out of your mouth or in your head long before you have a chance to control yourself or your thoughts. I think that it is an area that will always need work and constant contemplation.

All of this just up to pages 5 and 6!! What a gift I have been given and it is so in tune with what I have been reading all along and with the paths that I have started to walk. I look forward to coming to the part that inspired him to give it to me.

Thanks Bill.


2 comments:

What If There Is dog? said...

Hi,Dharma...I would post on Mixter but it always freezes my computer up for 10 minutes or so(maybe later).Great post.What a nice,semi-wild thing for your friend to do-awesome,really.

Your post brings up some very good...but deep..thoughts.I will enjoy comtemplating them..perhaps when I meditate tonight.

Dharma said...

Thanks Drew, I am beginning the book and it does give much good info to think about.