Let us live most happily, possessing nothing;
Let us feed on joy,
like the radiant gods.
~Buddha
Imagine how the earth would sigh with pleasure if everyone took a day or more off every week to refrain from driving, striving, shopping, producing and consuming. Imagine if we simplified our desires, practiced radiant idleness and the joys of roaming free. What if we loafed, rested, napped and dreamed, gardened, played, went for long walks, made love, sewed buttons, and cooked? Imagine the peace if we got creative with our ingredients instead of heading, out of habit, to the store.
It would be a beginning- a small step for mankind- toward a more peaceful, sustainable and joyful world, wouldn’t it? Does the thought excite your heart, sending shivers up your spine?
Once you see through transience and illusion
the joys of roaming free are wonderful indeed.
~Han Shan
Be content with what you have.
Rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize
there is nothing lacking,
The whole world belongs to you.
~Lao Tzu
The Freedom Of Joy passages excerpted from THE JOY BOOK by Ingrid Goff-Maidoff
Pictures taken last night at Great Rock Bite… someone left beautiful sand sculptures- a castle, and a frog.
Ingrid,
Thank you for these lovely images for us to start our weekend with. The shore is breathtaking and invites us to contentment. The Lao Tzu quote is one of my favorites and always brings me back to center, as does the sea. And, of course, the passage from your dear book is one of my favorites too. I think everyone should start their day reading snippets from The Joy Book you created. It is timeless… Enjoy your beautiful ocean and the company of loved ones this weekend. xxxooo
“Practicing radiant idleness and the joys of roaming free” sounds absolutely glorious to me. I have found that my creativity flows freely when I just stop all the “busyness” of my life, quiet myself and just BE.
Your words and your images here in this sacred space remind me that I am already content. Contentment, I have recently learned, is not the fullfillment of what I want, but the realizaiton and gratitude of what I already have. (quote from Mass this morning).
Hi Ingrid, everything you have written here is wonderful and inspiring. It reminds me of how Sundays used to be in “the olden days” — something I have pondered getting back to, like you suggest here. A day to “refrain from driving, striving, shopping, producing and consuming” and perhaps, technology! Thank you for this gentle reminder! (I love the quote from Lao Tzu, too, so thank you for sharing that as well!)
I breathe a sigh of relief just thinking about putting everything away for a day. No worries, no struggling, no buying or doing. Just simple happiness. Thank you for reminding me that it’s possible.