Thursday Thirteen 48: Nothing

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An affirmation is a strong, positive statement that something is already so. (Shakti Gawain)

Last weekend, I spent a few days in Woodstock, New York, visiting a friend but otherwise doing exactly nothing.

1. Doing nothing is a fine art that involves being neither productive nor useful in any way or form.

2. It requires accepting that the world will do just fine without me. This is not a had fact for me to swallow. I have suspected it all along.

3. Sure enough, the sky stayed up and the earth stayed down in my absence.


4. In fact, nobody noticed I was gone.


5. At one point, nothing took the shape of a rigorous uphill walk to visit a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. (To the untrained eye, nothing can look like something, but it isn't.) After this adventure, I sat myself on a park bench on the green and did some more nothing. Just looked around and loved it all.


6. A very nice older man asked me what I was doing in town for the weekend. "Nothing," I said. "Nothing at all."


7. "Don't you feel guilty doing nothing?" he smiled.


8. "No," I said. "Not in the least."


9. I told him I was just down from visiting the monastery. He told me about a Zen temple somewhere nearby. I told him about the one in New Hartford, Connecticut, and the one in Carmel, New York. "What else do you do besides visit monasteries?" he asked.


10. "Nothing," I said.
Nothing is good.

11. In the midst of all that nothing there is peace, there is quiet, there is a clear way to something quite lovely and well worth attaining.

12. In the midst of all that nothing, I can name that something and move toward it.


13. It is the magic that makes flowers beautiful and fragrant and seductive on a summer day, that transforms the movement of water into the music of summer, that turns a summery evening breeze into a love story.


Actually, that something is everything. And it is right in front of us and just beyond nothing.

Thursday Thirteen

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52 Comments

  1. nothing is everything...

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  2. I love the rationality of this. What more can I say?
    Why, nothing ...

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  3. That's one to remember.

    Excellent message for a modern world! It's said that the best prayer is the one in which you let your mind and heart and soul go quiet, and simply *be*, to hear the wisdom we might find there.

    The Woodstock trip sounds wonderful.

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  4. Sometimes we need to do just "nothing" to rejuvenate. Today is my doing nothing day as I was sent home by my doctor to rest and get well. I'm perusing all the T13's already posted, actually, which I guess isn't really "nothing". Quite interesting.

    My T13 is pre-scheduled to post at 12:01 AM this evening/tomorrow. It's confusing how to say that. :)

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  5. that sounds like a beautiful trip. it's a good reminder to take time to recharge and just be.

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  6. Fantastic TT as always. I'm totally moved by your words. Thanks for sharing. Happy TT!

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  7. Anonymous7:21 PM

    Doing exactly nothing can be so refreshing! Great post.

    Happy TT!

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  8. Good for you! For so many of us, nothing is one of the hardest things on earth to do (smile).

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  9. Thank you for sharing nothing. =) I was moved.

    Happy T-13!

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  10. This is just the best Sandy!

    I can so relate to your words on the topic of nothing. It's tough to pull off though, when you are use to go,go,go....at high-speed, at most times. You've captured the essence of contemplation and complete repose, perfectly. Hugs, G

    www.mypoeticpath.wordpress.com

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  11. i like doing nothing and I really love doing nothing with You!

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  12. Your nothing sounds so delicious. Good for you!

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  13. Just be still and know that I am God. It's in the still small voice that He speaks to us. Sounds like you had a relaxing weekend. I hope you have been refreshed!

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  14. Sandy, I love this post so much. Nothing is great. After so many years of always being so busy, I had to come to terms with the fact that doing nothing is really quite alright. Good for you...I am glad you had such a peaceful time.

    Btw: I noticed you were gone! :-)

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  15. Btw: this picture reminds me very much of the country side where the Alps are. It is very beautiful.

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  16. That's a really nice post. When I'm feeling really stressed, "nothing" is the only thing that helps. I never really thought of it this way before, so thanks!

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  17. Wonderful post!!! We ALL need to do NOTHING occasionally w/o feeling ‘guilty’ … LOVE the flower photo too!
    Hugs and blessings,

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  18. uh, Sandy, there was a lot of something to this nothing post! ;-)

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  19. quite a unique thursday thirteen. very creative sandy.

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  20. Pretty photo on the top. Happy TT.

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  21. Anonymous11:46 PM

    Beautiful beautiful list.

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  22. I love doing nothing too. It allows me to stop and think about life and what is in store for me.:)

    I would like to visit a Buddhist temple someday.:)

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  23. It seems like I've been doing a lot of nothing this summer. very nice!

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  24. Wonderful thoughts. I could feel a peacefulness just reading your words. I am not very good at doing nothing, but I like the idea of it. I really think I'd be a much better mom if I spent more time doing nothing.
    I can't wait to read more of your blog!

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  25. ohhhh, I enjoyed that!
    Beautiful!

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  26. happy tt and nothing can be something!
    http://www.apooobooks.com/2008/08/27/thursday-thirteen-5hot-fun-summertime-favorite-roller-coaster-rides/

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  27. there are a couple of quips I want to say first 'Thanks for Nothing':) and 'there is a lot of something in that nothing':) then that is what ai like to call recharging my battery letting the brain rest is sooo smart

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  28. Very nice story and picture!

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  29. Anonymous3:21 AM

    Wondering why all of the convention politics come on at 10:30pm, I realized that politicians don't have to get up for a day job.

    Now, your post on nothing. Sounds like nihilism. Have you considered a career in politics?

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  30. I didn't realize one could write so much about "nothing." Ü

    This is Paulie -- just wanted you to know I have a different blog since the old one was rapidly filling up and had almost no room for photos left. I will check with neo and get it changed also.

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  31. Hi Sandy!

    It seems you had a nice time in doing nothing.

    Nice shot.

    And thanks fot droping by.

    You´re right, it is a very beatuful plays, but you can´t liv only by air and love. And Göteborg is an very beautiful town to live in.

    By from Irene in Göteborg

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  32. Love #11~~~


    My 13 are listed, I do hope you can find time to stop over! happy thursday

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  33. Anonymous8:08 AM

    Nothing can be a very good thing :) Happy TT Sandy and thank you as always for stopping by :)

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  34. Love your nothingness......Happy TT.

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  35. Anonymous9:56 AM

    I was away doing nothing at the beach for several weeks. It shook up my identity a little to be cut off from all my regular life routines and work but I think it's good to do that occasionally, otherwise we take life too serious and forget that it's all very impermanent.

    That field of flowers is pretty and pretty good at doing nothing but still having an impact.

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  36. Anonymous10:27 AM

    There is so much wisdom is these 13it could be more easily weighed than counted. Thank you so adding such a wonderful quiet breath of nothing to my day!

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  37. Sandy, that was really really beautiful.How can one intellectualize that nothing is something. It's something inside knows or feels.

    What an incredible list!

    Cheers,
    Candy

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  38. Oops, Sancy that was me in above post under "Stagg". My husband was on computer before me and I didn't notice I hadn't logged in and he hadn't logged out...sorry about that...

    Candy

    http://gnosticminx.blogspot.com

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  39. I love this post! I have such a hard time staying in the moment, enjoying "nothing," without my mind racing ahead to the future or replaying the past. Thank you for a lovely reminder. (And thanks for visiting my TT)

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  40. Ahhhhh... I needed that. I flit around like a hummingbird most days. You have inspired me to light on a hillside and just breathe in the intoxicating sight, sound, and smell of autumn's delicate approach on our landscape.

    Do I spend a lot of time thanking you? If not, I should be.

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  41. We all need times of nothing...

    Good post!

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  42. Anonymous3:03 PM

    I could really go for a vacation filled with nothing. It would be nice to take some time to just be. Sounds like you had a nice trip. :)

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  43. nothing described like this sounds a lot like joy. :)

    thanx for visiting my Joy Sayings list

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  44. I responded to this somewhere and can't remember now where or what I said exactly, but I know this post is so good. It moved me and evoked incredibly special memories.

    Thank you.

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  45. Mmmm - I always love to read your lists. Such a sense of peace.

    Like you, I am always a little surprised when the world keeps turning without me. Slowly, that message is sinking in though.

    Peace - D

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  46. Sounds like you had a lovely, relaxing time doing "nothing". :)

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  47. Nothingdingness is a wonderful state of being. I've been aiming for it for years. Can only manage it when hubby is away, and the older we get the more space ai need and the more he is glued to my side. Love your cheerful photo.

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  48. Anonymous4:47 AM

    So lovely...So so love it. I love how the words conjure lovely pictures in my mind.

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  49. I'm looking for a little nothing in my life right now, Sandy... :) Happy TT!

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  50. Anonymous11:19 PM

    I'm a sucker for flower photos, especially beautiful ones like this. And you were not doing Nothing, you were taking a beautiful, vibrant, happy photograph. Something is better than nothing, in most cases. Although I think you mean a mind at rest, a very good thing. Thanks for the lovely photo and window into your experience that day.

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  51. A beautiful photo....beautiful thoughts.

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Thanks for being here.