Monks and Tangerines

I’ve been re-reading “Peace is Every Step” by the Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. It’s a phenomenal read about being mindful in our daily lives when we’re washing the dishes, picking up the phone, dealing with our emotions or relating to others. There are a lot of thoughtful messages throughout the book, but one of the major themes is that life is better when you focus on the present and smile. At a whopping 134 pages, it’s a light read, but it has had a profound impact on me. You may already practice some of the things that he writes about in this book, but sometimes it helps to see it written down. I’d like to thank Jean for recommending it.

There is a section called “Tangerine Meditation.” He tells a story about how he gave tangerines to some kids one day. He asked them to think about where the tangerine came from: the tree, the blossoms, the sun, the rain. Someone had to pick that tangerine and bring it to them. Then he asked the kids to slowly peel and eat the tangerine and really taste its flavor, its texture. They all enjoyed their fruit in full awareness. He writes, “You can see everything in the universe in one tangerine.”

Eating isn’t a chore. Just because we have to do it everyday, doesn’t mean that we should just eat whatever and not think about how it tastes or where it came from. Enjoy your next meal. Slow down and really taste the food. Think about its origins. And enjoy the meal after that, and the one after that…