Thought for the Day (Dec 10)

Subject: Thought for the Day (Dec 10)
From: Peter T.
Date: 10 Dec 99 - 10:22 AM

(dec 10) - I once attended a long Buddhist retreat (7 days in a monastery) taught by a legendary teacher. One early morning he said: "Today, we are going to work on ordinary ecstasy. It is like when you have been sick for a long time, and then you are suddenly well. Or if you have a bad toothache and it goes away. For an hour or so after, you are wonderful just being ordinary. Then you forget how wonderful it is to be ordinary. So what I want you to do all day is, whatever you do, think: "My toothache went away two minutes ago." So we did. We were all in bliss all day. Wash dishes -- my toothache went away two minutes ago. Say hello -- my toothache went away two minutes ago, etc.
At the end of the day, I went up to the teacher and said that that was a wonderful practice, we had all loved it. He smiled and said, yes, thought it up first thing this morning because I had terrible toothache. "Oh", I said, "Did it work for you?" He smiled even more broadly and said, "Oh, it works for everything!", and slapped his cheek, grimacing in pain, "except toothache!!!!"

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 10)
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Dec 99 - 10:33 AM

I can see the potential for you in this Peter! "Hello" -- Catspaw's out of town. Wash dishes -- Catspaw's out of town. Type a nice thought for the day -- Catspaw's out of town. Now if I'd just leave town......Works on everything but that!

BTW, could you loan Skipjack the Willie Nelson outfit? He has a heron in his "Sad Reads" story that's nekkid.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 10)
From: Jeffp
Date: 10 Dec 99 - 10:35 AM

Great story, Peter. We tend to forget what a wonderful gift ordinary life is. My wife can't understand how I can wake up in the morning in a good mood, ready to face the day ahead. I see each new day as an opportunity for new discoveries and knowledge. Also, when I first wake up, nothing's gone wrong yet that day. Things will probably get worse, but I might as well enjoy whatever time I have until then.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 10)
From: Peter T.
Date: 10 Dec 99 - 10:51 AM

I wonder if "Catspaw's out of town" will work on my bad toothache. (I neglected to put in that little piece of information, which is why I remembered the story). "Catspaw's out of town." "Catspaw's out of town". Nope. It just reminds me that we haven't met, and makes me unhappy. (Gee, I guess I should check out Sad Reads then, shouldn't I?). yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 10)
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Dec 99 - 12:55 PM

GREAT STORY, Peter! Good to read you, again. Louise Hay gives thanks for everything before she even gets out of bed; thanks for her lungs breathing, herat and blood circulating, her eyes, her bed for supporting her, literally everythihg. Even just an abbreviated version of that sure helps the day start off right, even when Spaw is out of town.*BG*

luvyaKat

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 10)
From: Diesel
Date: 10 Dec 99 - 03:00 PM

I was told once to start the day with a hangover, your day can only get better !

* shouldn't this one have gone to a bumber sticker thread

Diesel

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 10)
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 10 Dec 99 - 03:17 PM

Like the old saying goes........"you don't appreciate something until it is gone"
I feel Life is one big gift and it is important for me to feel appreciation and deep gratitude for everything I have.
A Good example....... I'm greatful to know Peter is around to contribute his Thoughts For The Day.

It's a good habit, this appreciation thing. Rather than focusing on what you don't have; focus on what you have.
Thanks Peter,

Little Neo

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Dec 10)
From: jeffp
Date: 10 Dec 99 - 04:14 PM

As the saying goes: Happines isn't having what you want, it's wanting what you have.