The Simple Daily Chore is Meditation in Action.

 

                                    India ink sketch of the Cheliahs or Mamaks of Chulia Street.

---

The Simple Daily Chores

A beautiful sunny day began with the small rituals that shape family life. I prepared my daughter’s lunch — miso soup with potatoes, carrots, broccoli, tofu, two eggs for body, and a touch of sautéed garlic, served with rice to go. The two siblings were sent off to work, and I did the grocery shopping. Now, back at home, I sit quietly with a bowl of leftover miso soup and rice, content in the simplicity of it all.

These are the humble daily chores, the kind that often go unnoticed but carry quiet meaning. To cook, to prepare, to take care — these are ways of lightening the load of those we love, removing small worries so they can walk their path with a freer heart. In truth, service is not only in grand offerings but in these ordinary acts that nurture and sustain.

On a deeper level, this rhythm of daily tasks is what keeps us aligned. It is the grounding of body, mind, soul, and spirit — the most basic preparation for a stable existence. I call it meditation in action: a way of practicing mindfulness not on the cushion, but in the kitchen, the marketplace, and the quiet corners of home.

Zen masters often remind us: When you chop wood, chop wood. When you carry water, carry water. Every act, no matter how small, can be complete if done with awareness. In the Sufi tradition, too, it is said that polishing the heart is like polishing a mirror — every act of service, every act done with love, wipes away a little dust. Even cooking miso soup can be zikr, remembrance, if done in the presence.

So the daily chores are not distractions from spiritual life — they are the practice. They are the building blocks of alignment, the bridge that unites body, mind, soul, and spirit in the here and now. And once the service is done, the day leaves space for rest — perhaps a little rice, miso soup, and an episode or two of Game of Thrones, Harry Porter or Pirates of the Caribbean.

#reflection #selfinquiry #endingsandbeginnings #mindfulness

And in closing, I bow my heart in gratitude:

O Lord, thank You for the chance to serve in small ways. Thank You for the strength to care, for the food that nourishes, and for the quiet moments that remind me of Your presence in all things. May each simple act be an offering of love, a step closer to alignment with You. 

#mindfulness #dailychores #familylove #gratitude