“Mindful living is an art. When you do the dishes after dinner you can practice mindful breathing, so the time dish washing is pleasant and meaningful. You do not feel you have to rush. If you hurry, you waste the time of dish washing. The time you spend washing dishes and doing all your other everyday tasks is precious. It is a time for being alive. When you practice mindful living, peace will bloom during your daily activities.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh
"Our house is clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy." ~Unknown
(From How to Do What You Really Want While Saving the World At the Same Time:)
Basic chores are the stuff of everyday enlightenment. When you leave a big mess, everyone notices. But when you clean, setting things clear and bright, pick up that bit of litter, the place is as it should be.
So naturally, nobody notices. This can be a good tonic for the ego. And a blessed practice of karma yoga, service to one another.
Cleaning need not be thought of as a dirty job. Soil is sacred to us Earth dwellers. Children brought up in sterile cleanliness may develop allergies because their immune system is bored and has nothing to do. So let's all get down and dirty at cleaning time.
Nor do we need poison anyone to keep our spaces clean. A little castile soap and water will often do fine. A great natural solvent? Plain water, and soaking time is all you need. Bleach? Sunshine is an effective bleach for many purposes. Air freshener? Try opening windows, hanging things out in the wind. Even in big cities, indoor air is usually worse than out door.
Kitchen cutting boards with the exposed wooden end grain surface naturally clean themselves. Dry your dishes in the air! That gets them cleaner than wiping. (One must note that most types food poisoning germs, of course, are not found in vegan kitchens, and that raw plant food dishes can be cleaned without hot water or soap.) What is the doctor recommended method of hand sanitizing in this age of superbugs? Plain old soap and water.
Wow, all this natural free cleaning stuff- water, air, wood, sun...Even earth can clean: think of the pumice stone that scrubs the toilet, and filters, natural and constructed, that clean our water. Plus, nowadays there are many fine natural cleaners for any specialized purpose, plus recipes and tips on the interweb for common household substances such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice which can be used.
It is no wonder religious communities devote so much time to performing simple chores. A clear clean space just feels better to be in. When we give this gift to each other with a loving intention, it is a real blessing.
"The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity may suggest."- Thomas Moore
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