This was recently quoted in an article by Sharon Salzberg regarding our meditation practice. This quote has been used by many over the years and I have used it often over the years in my own psychology practice. The quote reflects on how we are creatures of our own habitual ways and whether they are positive or negative in nature it is up to us how we want to take the journey.

This quote is not a basic tenant in Buddhist teachings but it does reflect certain aspects of Buddhist philosophy, especially those related to mindfulness, intention, and the interconnectedness of our actions.

This quote relates to Buddhist practice in the following ways.

First Buddhism emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, which involves being fully present in the moment. When we approach a task with mindfulness and give the task our complete attention, we are essentially practicing the idea, how you do one thing reflects your state of mind and intention.

Secondly, intention and karma in Buddhism which is the quality of intention behind the action is said to influence the karmic consequences. Therefore, if you approach everything you do with positive intentions, such as kindness, compassion, and integrity it is said that you are cultivating “good” karma and contributing to your spiritual growth. I think this is stated beautifully in the below quote by Thich Nhat Hanh

  “The day is ending,

         Our life is one day shorter.

         Let us look carefully

         At what we have done.

         Let us practice diligently,

         Putting our whole heart into the path of meditation.

         Let us live deeply each moment in freedom,

so time does not slip away meaninglessly.”

This quote is asking us to take a mindful inventory at the end of each day and look at our words, and actions. It is important to process this at the end of each day so that when we awaken the next morning, we can greet they day with an open and renewed sense of kindness and compassion towards all beings.

Thirdly, the quote above also relates to interconnectedness. Buddhist teachings contend that all things are interconnected. Actions, thoughts, and emotions are not isolated experiences they actually influence each other and the world around us. When we are mindful of our interconnectedness or interbeing with one another it helps us to see that we are interdependent on each other for sustenance in life. We cannot just ignore a brother, and hope to prosper in this world. Just like we cannot ignore our dependence on resources of mother earth. We cannot deplete all of her resources and hope that her resources will never run out. Nothing in this world last forever. There is a beginning and an end to everything it is called impermanence. Therefore, when you recognize this interconnectedness, you start to see that how you approach any one task reflects your overall attitude toward life.

Fourthly, the quote above also relates to the consistency in our Buddhist practice which involves cultivating qualities like compassion, mindfulness, and wisdom. Therefore, if you approach your spiritual practice with diligence and consistency, it’s likely that these qualities will extend to other areas of your life as well.

Fifthly, Buddhism places a great importance on wisdom. Which includes understanding the impermanent and interconnected nature of reality. Hence, approaching everything with this understanding can lead to more skillful and insightful ways of engaging with the world.

In closing although the above quote is not from traditional Buddhism. The underlying principles support some of the key teachings in Buddhism. The way you approach the smallest and simplest tasks can be a projection of your own mindset and can support your personal growth as well as supporting and impacting the world around us.