If you don’t have something nice to say, say something nice anyway.

So, the moon shines on Kannon, and Kannon shines on the world. Standing amidst suffering, she brings light into the darkness, helping us walk the Buddhist path.

Mindfulness shifts our thinking so that a simple meal transforms into a gift for all sentient beings.

Be a light in the darkness. Speak healing words

Each of us can be a Bodhisattva of compassion. We can radiate calm during difficult situations. And we can offer healing words in times of distress. In this way, each time we speak with empathy, Kannon speaks through us.

Mindfulness helps us see perfection in the ordinary.

So, we have a paradox where washing the dishes one time is seemingly unimportant. But washing them 10,000 times (consistently, every day) is important because that repetition ensures that we always have plates and silverware at our disposal. But we can’t wash the dishes 10,000 times unless we start by washing them once. A single action done correctly and repeatedly makes all the difference in our lives.

What would happen if we looked at ourselves like the nun looked at that tree? What would happen if we treasured our imperfections in the same way that the priest treasured the tree’s gnarled branches? I think our lives would be better as a result. More than that, I think it’s incumbent on us to see the perfection of our imperfect souls.

The practice of Right Action is a practice of faith, a faith that says what we do matters. We matter. And whether we’re refilling the coffee pot at work or speaking in front of a crowd of thousands, we have the power to change the world one small act at a time.