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Rose Robbins, my dear departed friend and teacher at Zen, wrote some powerful words in her book Cherish the Harvest: Making Enlightened Choices: A Holistic Perspective, Lessons from the Garden. “Actually, meditation can be called a search for simplicity, or a return to simplicity.  To be simple is the most difficult task in our society, or perhaps anywhere.  Yet it is essential if we are to attain peace of mind, for in reality, it is a search for significance and authenticity (p. 86).”

Today just happens to be the Labor Day holiday in America where simplicity is an oxymoron. Nothing in business or life is simple today and even though we are to be rife of labor on this particular day the stores are bustling with sales and companies are requiring their employees to go to work, even in jobs that could be closed in order to give them a day of rest and respite.

Women and men will be rushing to the grocery stores to buy those last minute items to prepare or to share at their family dinners and barbeques.  Those lucky enough to have the day off will be lining the roads rushing from home to store to friends and relatives with mustard or relish, potato or macaroni salad, and red velvet cake with icing on top in the shape of an American flag.

Or they will be rushing from store to store to catch that bargain that they really don’t need and may never wear or use, some arguing with sales clerks and other customers.  They will spend the day in chaos, use up our natural resources, put more carbon into our atmosphere, and while sitting at one of those endless traffic lights a glimmer of a thought may appear, “What the heck am I doing here?”

“On the wall of the silent retreat at the Sai Baba Ashram in India is a mural:

Before you speak consider.
Is it necessary? Is it true? Is it kind?
If not be silent, and listen to the quietness within (p 85).”

“To be simple” as Rose says, “is the most difficult task…”  How many of you reading this wish your lives were simpler?  If you do not take Sai Baba’s sage words to heart your life will continue to be filled with hustle and bustle and you’ll be saying as the commercial on TV does, “My life is busy, busy, busy.”   And when that life is over, as you lay in that hospice bed, what will you be thinking then?  Busy doing what?

Simplicity is a word that most Americans do not know, it is not a part of their lives in any way, shape, or form.  In fact, for some it is a “cuss word” as mom used to say.  They will say to me after a long day or week of sitting at the Zendo—you just sat for all those hours!?  You’re kidding, aren’t you?

Over the years I have tried to simplify my life in small steps, “baby steps, baby steps” as Richard Dreyfuss, the psychiatrist, would say to his neurotic patient, Bill Murray, in the 1991 movie “What About Bob?”   I went from a giant house in the suburbs, to a two bedroom condo on the beach, to a one bedroom condo on the beach, to sharing a one bedroom condo with a friend after his mother had died.  I live in one room that is filled with book cases, a computer desk, a recliner chair, and one of those wonderful hospital beds that go up and down so I can watch re-runs of old British comedies on my10 year-old TV with ease.  And I could not be happier!

In fact, my next move (when I fully retire) will be to purchase a small RV so that I can drive around the country and see all of the beautiful things in America that I have yet had the opportunity to see.

Simplicity in speech is also something I am working on daily.  Some of my friends may not think so I’m sure, but I am.  I am working to live a life as is described by Sai Baba above.  Before I speak I am practicing asking myself, “Is it necessary? Is it true? Is it kind?”  It goes along with the Sixth Grave Precept in Buddhism, “A disciple of Buddha does not speak of the faults of others.”  And yes, it is hard.  If you decide to try it you will find that your co-workers, friends, and family members will entice you in many and various ways to talk about others, to share gossip, and stories, and rumors and words of anger, hatred, or doubt. Or we end up doing just what the Buddha called “monkey talk.” Chatter, chatter, and chatter with no real point, or thought, or importance to the words at all.

In fact, I have gotten so bad with the “monkey talk” that I even talk to myself out loud at any time and in any place.  I actually said this to my friend just yesterday, “You know what I really love about my Bluetooth is that I can be talking to myself as I walk around and no one will know they will think I am talking to someone on the phone!.”  Now that is really pathetic, if I do say so myself!

If you are like me… instead, remind yourself that you are working, especially on this Labor Day holiday, toward living a simpler life as is sung in the Shaker hymn written by Elder Joseph, “Tis the Gift to be Simple.”

‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free
‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain’d,
To bow and to bend we shan’t be asham’d,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come ’round right.

Begin with baby steps—but begin today.  Yes, even on Labor Day! And for this I simply wish you luck…