The Second of a Lifetime

There’s a idea in Japanese tea ceremony from Zen, roughly translated as “one probability in a lifetime,” or “one lifetime, one assembly.” It’s such an exquisite thought: any assembly you’ve got with somebody is exclusive, fleeting, and can by no means occur once more, even when you see this individual on daily basis.

What would life be like if we might study this sort of deep appreciation for any second?

I discover myself typically in a rush for one thing I wish to occur instantly. I need it to be absolutely completed, yesterday. I’m overlooking the unimaginable second that’s occurring proper now.

I discover myself annoyed with different individuals, even when I don’t wish to admit that frustration. I need the opposite individual to be completely different than they’re, need them to alter. I’m lacking out on the great thing about being with this individual simply as they’re.

I discover myself eager to rush round doing issues, and eager to fill each second with distractions, productive actions, busyness. I’m lacking a possibility for stillness, for stopping and simply being in the great thing about the current second.

I typically appear to assume (with out realizing it) that there’s some particular second in life that’s coming, that will probably be extra particular than life is correct now. What I overlook is that life doesn’t get extra particular than what’s occurring proper now.

This right here, this second occurring proper now … that is the second of a lifetime.

How heartachingly beautiful it’s.