The Art of Doing Nothing
A Buddhist man had just moved into a new home and wanted to start things off on the right foot. So he picked up the phone and called the nearby monastery.
“Hello,” he said. “Would it be possible for a monk to come and bless my house?”
On the other end, the monk replied gently, “I’m sorry. I’m busy.”
The man, surprised, asked, “Oh… busy with what? Maybe I can help.”
“I’m doing nothing,” said the monk calmly. “Doing nothing is a monk’s most important work—and I’m afraid you can’t help me with that.”
The man chuckled, a little puzzled, and hung up.
The next day, he called again.
“Hi, I was wondering if today might be a better time for you to come bless the house?”
“Sorry,” the monk said again. “Still busy.”
“What are you doing this time?” the man asked.
“Still doing nothing,” the monk answered.
The man raised an eyebrow, amused. “But… that’s what you were doing yesterday!”
“Correct,” said the monk. “I’m not finished yet.”
Sometimes, the deepest practices look like doing nothing at all. Stillness, after all, is rarely rushed.
