A few days back I took pictures of myself doing yoga. The space where I practice these days is rather tiny but for me it’s a big enough. When I checked the pictures I realized how cluttered they were. In the corner that can be seen in the picture were books. This little shelf was full of books and the little Buddha stood in the left corner preventing the books from falling. It was so distracting and not beautiful at all. Again I went through my books with the goal to discard as many as possible. Books that I haven’t read for several decades, I very likely won’t read in the next decade. Also the yellowed books had to go. Even donation shops don’t take such old books. I still found knitting books. It’s too time-consuming for me in the meantime. I have different interests. At the end of the evening I was surprised by myself I had created this little altar. I love empty space. The buddha statue is now the one and only subject in that corner. It’s not in competition with all the books. Now its true beauty can be seen. It was my first buy at Ebay. I was enthusiastic when it arrived decades ago. A certain Helmut was the seller. This little buddha was packed so nicely. It was love at first sight when I had removed all the packing paper that should protect the statue.
This morning very early, it was still dark, I stared at the buddha. I got lost in time. I loved the space around him. The simplicity of this place is so intriguing. I need more of this calm areas, I thought. I skipped yoga. Before breakfast I started discarding books. Motivation was excellent. Sometimes I think desperation whips me forward. Books are no clutter. Books are my friends. When I read it’s like having a conversation with an author. Some authors become mental friends. Yet there can be a too many. Lately I heard an interview with a woman (Elke Heidenreich). Once she said that she wants to read a book every day. In that interview she said: One cannot read everything. This is so true. So this morning I updated and upgraded my shelves. I managed it to create other empty spaces. What a relief. What a joy.
When I’ll start my yoga practice tomorrow morning I’ll look at my little buddha with the closed eyes. I’ll know that time was not wasted. This little statue that sits in a most beautiful empty space will miracle a smile on my face.
Keep it simple.