Buddha Quote
Friday January 30, 2026
TrashDuring spring-cleaning, I started sorting out everything I have
in the cupboard into piles of different categories-Buddhist
books, general books, childhood books, cards and letters from
friends, lots of unclassifiable knick-knacks, files,
stationary... and of course, trash. The trash pile was very
interesting because it piled up the highest and occupied about
one-fifth of my room. Like I was saying, the trash "was" very
interesting-in it were miscellaneous articles of past interests.
I was very clear of how all these meant to me. I couldn't bear to
throw any of it away-that was a whole bunch of seemingly random
attachment.
I felt a strange sense of release as the trash
piled up. I have somewhat come of age, grown out of my past and
much out of my "junior" attachments-a kind of material
renunciation. I felt a sense of horror when I realised that I was
somewhat "throwing out" parts of my life, parts that were deemed
to be of the utmost importance is now pure trash. Does this mean
I had wasted much of my life focusing on the wrong things? There
was a dreadful, heart-wrenching feeling.
Then the answer came
to be "No." All of these played a part in my growth and led me to
my present spiritual state. It was all a process, part and
parcel. There was a reason for every wrong turn I took in life,
namely my ignorance. But it was the knowledge of my ignorance
that led me here to be seeking wisdom. I felt release.
The story
doesn't end here. Before I cleared the trash, I told myself to be
mindful of my present attachments-both material and mental. I
wouldn't want to sort out a pile of trash again in years to come.
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