Opening and Closing Doors

AA said: Ska träna på detta.

BB said: merci! je vais essayer..

Opening and Closing Doors

Opening this door
I enter with mindfulness,
Fully open myself
To what is.

Closing this door
I exit with mindfulness
Fully open myself
To what is

                                 Buddhist gatha

Opening and closing doors is something we most often do completely without awareness. In fact, when we’re opening or closing a door our minds are already in that other room or out of the one we came from. We’re simply not in the Here and Now – entering or exiting a room.

In periods I have worked actively with the verses above, trying to remind myself to make little awareness pauses during the day and to be more present. It was especially helpful during work life, when I moved around in an office with lots of colleagues and different issues to deal with. However, even now, when spending much of my time alone at home it is a good reminder to pause, drop whatever my mind is busy with, and start afresh.

Someone said about the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh: “As I saw him closing a door, I knew he was a real monk”. I think it’s worthwhile trying to gain a little of that calm composure, be it only while opening or closing doors…