The Papa Gathas

So the first thing I should probably explain for my non-Zen audience is what a gatha is. A gatha is essentially a short verse that can be recited during daily activities to help maintain mindfulness. A perfect example is the following gatha, written by Thich Nhat Hahn, and included in his book, Present Moment, Wonderful Moment. This gatha is to be used just before driving the car:

Driving a Car

Before starting the car,
I know where I am going.
The car and I are one.
If the car goes fast, I go fast;
If the car goes slowly, I go slowly.

Another good example is this one, also from Thich Nhat Hahn (all the ones I use are from him), which is to be used while washing dishes:

Washing the Dishes

Washing the dishes
is like bathing a baby Buddha.
The profane is the sacred.
Everyday mind is Buddha’s mind.

You get the idea. We recite these verses to help keep our minds on where we ar–in the present moment–rather than letting our minds drift off to what we have to do at work tomorrow, or what we have to get at the grocery store. The idea is, while washing the dishes we should just wash the dishes.

So, I decided to compose a couple of my own to use while I am performing my daily duties as a father. There didn’t seem to be any parent-specific ones in Present Moment, Wonderful Moment (and why would there be? Nhat Hahn is not married and has no children), so I adapted a couple of the ones in the book for my more specific needs. Here are a couple I have come up with so far:

Cleaning Applesauce

There is applesauce in her hair

And in the carpet.

How wonderful it is to scrub and clean.

 

Coming Downstairs

Small legs need more time

To take big steps.

With each step, a gentle wind blows;

With each step, a flower blooms.

 

Changing Diapers

In the poop I smell a rose,

In a rose I know there is poop.

Everything is in transformation.

Even permanence is impermanent.

 

During an Argument

May my words create mutual understanding and love.

May they be as beautiful as gems,

Even though my daughter does not listen,

And must sit in time out.

 

Once I have written all the gathas one will ever need as a parent, I will collect them into a volume called, The Papagathas. (Look for it at your local bookstore.) Some of you will recognize this as a reference to Tathagata—which has nothing whatsoever to do with gathas, but which works as a nice play on words for me. And I will spare you the explanation of what Tathagata is. If you already know, great. If you don’t, that’s okay; you don’t need to. And if you want to, you will look it up.

As always, thank you for reading this far. Be at peace. 🙂

 

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