Surrender, let time take its course, flow like water to achieve more with less

1. The Monk & The Elf
2. Doing Nothing Across Cultures
3. Benefits of Doing Nothing
4. Practice the Art of Doing Nothing

The Monk & The Elf

The little green elf’s golden green cap bobbed up and down as he waddled towards the monk lying under the huge fig tree. He lay curled up in his ochre and orange robe.

The curious elf had been watching the monk for a long time now, controlling his impatience to shout at the monk and hurl some fallen seeds at him. But the monk lay there, not stirring a bit.

The elf came out of the shrubs, crept close to the monk and waited for a reaction. He had some seeds in his hand, should the monk show some movement. “Is he dead?” the elf muttered to himself. He edged closer towards the monk’s face and saw the slow rise and fall of the chest. The elf was pleased as he could carry out his plan.

The elf tugged at the monk’s robe. The monk didn’t move, but his chest moved up and down rhythmically. The elf put all the decayed seeds in the monk’s bag and controlling his laughter, he headed back into the shrub and waited.

After sometime, the monk slowly opened his eyes. He folded his hands and thanked the tree, the sun, the grass and then picked up his bag. The decayed seeds fell out, but the monk smiled and put the seeds near the trunk of the tree. The elf was dismayed, and hid deeper in the shrub.

The monk went away. The next day, he came again at the same time. The elf repeated the same trick. The monk did exactly the same thing and went away without looking for the culprit. The elf was puzzled. The monk hadn’t even looked around the tree or turned towards the shrubs.

On the fourth day, the elf tugged harder at the sleeping monk’s robe. No response, the rhythmic movement of the chest told him the monk wasn’t disturbed. The puzzled elf lay down next to the monk, hoping to find the secret of this ‘no response’. The restless elf couldn’t lie down for long, but for those few seconds he liked being there. He disappeared into the shrub, as the monk spread the decayed seeds at the base of the trunk.

The elf and the monk lay next to each other for another three days. On the fourth day, the elf went off to sleep on the cool grass, the gold rays slowly found their way through the curtain of green leaves. The monk got up to discover the culprit fast asleep. He spread the decayed seeds around the base of the trunk and went his way.

Eight days passed. The elf could no longer control himself now. He went and sat under the tree at the exact spot where the monk slept, long before the monk’s arrival time. The seeds were spread on the grass, so the spot was no longer a smooth place to sleep.

The monk arrived, put his bag down and looked at the elf with the green cap and his stubborn expression. “Hello, little friend,” he smiled as he sat down on the bumpy grass. He didn’t utter a word, but started to collect the seeds and spread them around the base of the tree. He, then, lay down.

The elf couldn’t control himself now. “What are you doing?” he screamed.

“Nothing,” smiled the monk.

“I tug at your robe, I spread seeds on your sleeping space, I put decayed seeds in your bag. Why don’t you do anything?” he said, refusing to let the monk sleep.

“By doing nothing, I am doing everything. If I had stretched my legs when you tugged my robe, you would have been hurt. If I had thrown the seeds in the garbage bin, they would have been wasted. Now, Earth will turn them into nutrients and the tree will have more food. If I had scolded you as you hid in the shrubs, it would have harmed our mental and spiritual health. We would have argued, wasted our time and, energy; all these need to be better utilised for a harmonious stay on Earth. I surrendered and let time takes its course. You slept in peace on this cool Earth, breathed in the fresh air, didn’t feel tired, stopped wasting your time, and now, we can be friends,” the monk replied.

“You, my friend, have done good to Earth by spreading the seeds and taking rest in its embrace. You have understood the value of surrender and the art of doing nothing. Your observation skills have grown, patience is high, mischievousness is checked, curiosity and communications are your strengths,” the monk smiled again. “Now, let us do nothing, rest, and open our hearts for the next step.”

The monk and the elf are now friends, and enjoy ‘doing nothing’ under the tranquil fig tree.

Doing Nothing Across Cultures

The art of doing nothing is as old as mankind. The ancient philosophers discovered the healing power of savouring the moment, living in the ‘NOW’ to achieve more.

The concept of intentional rest is a source of creativity, deep wisdom, rejuvenation, and spiritual growth. It means that we surrender to the natural flow of the universe and become a part of it, rather than trying to turn the tables, resulting in damage of all relationships and environment. It is like the flow of water, effortless and spontaneous.

In ancient China, this philosophy is called Taoism, emphasizing the importance of wu wei or ‘non-action’.

The Japanese call it Nikken. The practices of ‘Shinrin-Yoku’ or forest bathing, and ‘Hanami’ or flower viewing, reflect the appreciation for slowing down and enjoy the natural world.

You can read about my forest bathing experience here.

The Turkish Tea Culture, much like China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, is about engaging with friends and family.

In Indian philosophy, the Sanskrit word Nirvakta or ‘silent observer’ is appropriate for this nothingness. This state of stillness comes through ‘dhyan’ or meditation and ‘shavasana’ or corpse pose.

Ancient Romans believed in Otium, which is the Latin wordforleisure and idleness.    

The Greeks believed Schole, or leisure time was essential for intellectual growth and development of virtues. The modern word school comes from this. Modern Greece highlights the tradition of Kefi or a state of joy, high spirits and relaxation.  

For the modern Italians, Dolce Far Niente or the sweetness of doing nothing comes with enjoying leisurely meals, strolls, or simply daydreaming.

The Dutch call it Niksen.

In Scandinavian countries, Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) stands for coziness, comfort, and contentment. This can come with simple pleasures like reading a book by the fireplace, enjoying a cup of hot cocoa, or watching a nice movie with loved ones.  

The French enjoy Flânerie or the art of leisure strolls to observe the city.  

Siesta is a well-known Spanish tradition where people take a short nap or rest period in the early afternoon, typically after lunch.  

Mexican culture endorses Sobremesa or leisurely conversations at the table after a meal.

Saudade, practiced in Portugal and Brazil,is a time for deep contemplation. It literally means nostalgia.

Between the rabbit and tortoise, the USA has always been the rabbit. However, even in the speediest country in the world, the Slow Movement, advocating a mindful and intentional approach to life is gaining ground.

The Jamaican slang Irie is connected to Rastafarian culture and reggae music.

In Ghana, African Time reflects a more relaxed attitude towards punctuality and scheduling.  

Benefits of Doing Nothing

Practice the Art of Doing Nothing

This post was created for the Blogaberry Creative (Monthly) Challenge with theme word (NO…). I chose the word NOthing.

This post is a part of Blogchatter’s Cause A Chatter