Why Are You Hinging Your Peace Waiting for Someone Else to Do Something?

One of my favorite stories:

A successful executive on the verge of burning out decides to go on a Zen retreat.

He’s a little skeptical, but it came highly recommended by his Directors, so why not?

He arrives at the retreat and is immediately blown away by the monastery’s splendor and beauty.

As he climbs the stairs to the meditation hall, the serenity of this place washes over him.

Reaching the landing, standing before the doors, ready to begin his journey, he sees it.

Sitting to the right of the meditation hall doors is a bucket with a mop in disgusting grey water.

The executive thinks to himself,

“This is ridiculous, this is Zen? Someone should do something about it.”

He enters the hall and begins his meditation.

On the second day, he walks up the stairs, and the same feeling of awe washes over him.

Upon reaching the landing, he sees the bucket, and now he smells it.

“That’s disgusting. Someone should do something about it.”

He enters the hall and begins his meditation, the bucket lingering in his mind.