'Not putting a man on the moon'

[sunshine]

'Not putting a man on the moon'

A meditator was on an integrated retreat and was mindfully hoovering in the cloakroom. As she was doing this task she was reminded of a story that she had heard. It is a story that everyone knows. President Kennedy went on a visit to Cape Canaveral. He toured the facilities and spoke to scientists and administrators alike. As he was leaving the building he saw a janitor sweeping the floor and asked him what he did at Cape Canaveral. The man stood up straight and said, “Mr President, I’m helping put a man on the moon.” The man clearly saw himself and his job as participating in the bigger picture. The meditator considered her similar activity of hoovering and thought, “Well, I’m not putting a man on the moon. So what is the bigger picture that I am taking part in?” On reflection the meditator was able to see that whilst performing this mundane task she had the opportunity to observe and ponder on the ten parami.

She was giving of her time in service to the centre. She was observing discipline by following the instructions that she had been given and thereby renouncing her own ideas of how things should be done.

She was developing wisdom by understanding which actions were appropriate and she was expending the right amount of energy to accomplish her task.

She was showing patience in the completion of the task because she didn’t rush and she didn’t dawdle but stayed in the moment, and her approach to the task was truthful and resolute as she had resolved to complete it to the best of her ability.

As she worked she was aware of conducting the work with metta and kindness, and she was able to balance all this with unselfish modesty and equanimity.

When she reviewed what had actually been happening whilst carrying out this mundane task she realised that she may not be ‘putting a man on the moon’, but she was cultivating the characteristics that expressed compassion and a wish for all beings in the world to be free of suffering.

This was the bigger picture she was looking for.