by C. Li

Created on: June 30, 2007

The individual search for sacred in a secular world is extremely difficult to do. I have wanted many times to simply leave society and live in some mountain resort or forest in a loin cloth, and live life simply. After all, this completely takes away chances of being distracted, corrupted, and/or hurt by people or society. This would perhaps create an ideal meditative paradise. As my life turned out, this is not the case. Instead life decided to have me stay in society and find my spirituality within the world. This meant that I had to practice my meditation, read my books, and do my contemplating while having to go to school, pay taxes, losing or finding jobs, dealing with interpersonal crises, and being late for work. It seems at times the mundane almost drags one away from true spirituality. For example, how can I take 10 minutes out to meditate (or take a walk) when I have to take care of the baby or mop the floor? I don't have a direct answer to this predicament, but I feel with time and determination a person will find a way to incorporate a little spirituality into their everyday life. One of the famous patriarchs of Chinese Chan Buddhism solved this problem by making everyday living a meditation in itself. He was a cook and therefore infused mindfulness into every act he performed. He unwrapped vegetables the same way every time and placed all his focus and compassion into every act of cooking the meals. The meals turned out delicious; even the simple ones. In time even though he did not have as much time as the rest of the monks to study and meditate, he still was able to fathom the truth of spiritual enlightenment through his everyday practice. The answer is "no", I don't have an exact answer to how one can create spirituality in a secular world.

On the other hand, some individuals' paths may take them to a solitary journey away from society. A favorite book of mine is "A Cave in the Snow" by Vicki Mackenzie. It is about Tenzin Palmo, the first British woman to go to Tibet as a Buddhist nun (who later spent 12 years meditating in a cave in solitude). Though she was planning on staying there for a longer time fate brought her back into the world (there was some slight complication and she was ordered to return to society). I feel there is a lot that one can learn from the world spiritually if one opens up their eyes and finds a consistent spiritual practice in their everyday lives.

Learn more about this author, C. Li.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.