Excerpt: Is the following short story about a lazy cat or of an enlightened monk? Read this thought-provoking short story and decide for yourself…
The following is an excerpt A Book of Simple Living: Brief Notes from the Hills by Ruskin Bond.
In it, he shares a quiet occurrence that happens at his home each afternoon that’s worth reflecting on.
It could very well change how you view and/or seek contentment. Enjoy.
Enter Ruskin Bond:
A small ginger cat arrives on my terrace every afternoon, to curl up in the sun and slumber peacefully for a couple of hours.
When he awakes, he gets on his feet with minimum effort, arches his back and walks away as he had come.
The same spot every day, the same posture, the same pace.
There may be better spots—sunnier, quieter, frequented by birds that can be hunted when the cat is rested and restored.
But there is no guarantee, and the search will be never-ending, and there may rarely be time to sleep after all that searching and finding.
It occurs to me that perhaps the cat is a monk.
By this I do not mean anything austere.
I doubt anyone in single minded pursuit of enlightenment ever finds it.
A good monk would be a mild sort of fellow, a bit of a sensualist, capable of compassion for the world, but also for himself.
He would know that it is all right not to climb every mountain.
A good monk would know that contentment is easier to attain than happiness, and that it is enough.
If you enjoyed this excerpt from A Book of Simple Living, then you should check out Ruskin Bond’s book in full. It comes warmly recommended:
![A Book of Simple Living by Ruskin Bond [Book]](https://movemequotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Simple-Living.jpeg)
Book Overview: This personal diary records the many small moments that constitute a life of harmony-with the self, the natural world, and friends, family and passersby. In these pages, we watch a wild plum blossom and the moon come up between two deodar trees; we hear a redstart whistle and the rain drum on a tin roof; we recognize the aftermath of loss and the consolation of old companions. ‘A Book of Simple Living’ is a gift of beauty and wisdom from India’s most loved, and most understated, writer.
Buy from Amazon! Listen on Audible!
Great on Kindle. Great Experience. Great Value. The Kindle edition of this book comes highly recommended on Amazon.
NEW In The Shop: Don’t Let The Tame Ones Tell You How To Live [Poster]
Why We ♥ It: Some of the best advice I (Matt here) ever got was: don’t take life advice from people who aren’t living a life you want to live and don’t take criticism from people you wouldn’t go to for advice. I created this poster to act as a reminder to listen more closely to our role models and less closely to our critics, trolls, and tamed-comfort-zone-hugger acquaintances. It’s also a perfect gift for the outdoor adventurer, travel enthusiast, or solo explorer (or soon to be). Available in print or digital download. 👇🏼
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Written by Matt Hogan
Founder of MoveMe Quotes. On a mission to help busy people do inner work—for better mental health; for healing; for personal growth. Find me on Twitter / IG / Medium. I also share daily insights here. 🌱
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