WASHING DISHES MEDITATION

Washing dishes is an activity that most of us engage in every day.  This routine act which we most often engage in mindlessly can also be an opportunity to practise being fully present and mindful. 

Typically our attitude when doing such tasks like dish washing, sweeping, cleaning, cooking is to get it over with as quickly as possible, so that we can get to more important things.  The mindset we have then is that the job at hand is an obstacle or necessary evil in the path of the thing that we really want to do. 

Our evaluation or judgment of the task makes it difficult for us to see the value such mundane tasks possess – the ability to put us back in the moment, to practise contemplation, and to awaken us.  When we are fully available to the moment, no matter what we are doing, then we can’t worry about the future or yearn for the past.  We can only be present in the present. 

The skill to bring our attention to whatever we are doing makes it possible to keep our thoughts from running away with us and we become better able to manage our anxiety.  Paying attention or being mindful of what the body is doing and where the body is in the moment, slows down and calms the mind and body.  And when mind, body and moment unite, we are alive and present. 

This is how you practice dish washing meditation.  The intention is to use one or all the senses to become present in the moment.    

Sensations of dish washing (paying attention to all the senses – sound/sight/feeling)

You can choose to pay attention to the sensations of the weight of the bowl in your hand, the sound of the water running, the feel of the water and soap on your hand, the squishiness of the sponge, the smell of the soap, the sight of the caked on food on the utensils, and your feelings and thoughts about what you’re seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling.  Try to look at a fork, cup, pot as if you’ve never seen one before, and then “see” the fork, cup, pot.   

When your mind wanders, try not to judge yourself.  Keep returning to the object of your attention – the plate, the spoon you are washing. 

Or  there’s my favourite dish washing meditation…

Sounds of dish washing: (paying attention to just one sense – sound)

Listen to the sound of the water pouring onto or slopping over the utensils, the sound of the sink filling.  Hear the sound of the scourer scraping over the plates – notice the difference in tone when the scourer rubs over plastic, metal, glass, rubber.   Pay attention to the change in sound when the scourer has soap on it and when it doesn’t, listen to the cutlery clinking against each other and in the dish rack, against the pots, glass, wooden bowl. 

Washing dishes becomes so enjoyable, when I remember to wash them with this kind of “musical accompaniment.”  Try it and you might find this is true for you too. 

May you be awakened in this moment.