2/10 I moved from Torrance to a new apartment in Irvine. What I took with me today were just the Buddha Statue and a sleeping bag. I started my new life with Buddha.2/11 I went back to the family house and packed everything in boxes.
2/12 A big truck came and moved all furniture and boxes to the new place.
2/13 I cleaned my sweet house, dumping all trashes in the neighbors’ trash bins as well as mine.
2/14 I returned my house keys to the landlord. I tried to express how much I was appreciative of this house that supported our family life, then tears dropped.
2/18 Most boxes are now gone and I finally vacuumed the rooms in the new apartment.
It was a big week of moving my life from the previous place to the new place.
I realized that I have a strong attachment to my family. Things like a picture, note, toy, often stopped my hand of packing. In 2001, we came to US and my wife and kids made a great effort to adapt to this country. I may not be very considerate to each of them, however, as I was so busy with my own work too. Cleaning a house by oneself is hard, but I realized that it was a great time to feel deeply my appreciation to my wife and kids, Aki, Naoki, Yuri, and Taishi. It was another awakening!
Do not let your attachment controls you; Control your attachment for a new discovery.
Before I left the home, I bowed to each room and thanked. I also bowed to an old tree by the side of a kid's playhouse in the backyard. And I bowed to the house.
Thank you, Buddha.
Shoko Mizutani
