I visited a Buddhist monk in Japan in-between his prayer and teaching sessions. I asked him, “how do you practice your faith?” He said first, do not have expectations. When you expect people to receive you a certain way or respond to you positively or negatively, you set yourself up for failure. Placing expectations on yourself and on others leads to self-imposed, needless suffering. Second, say “thank you” in all situations, including in the day-to-day mundane activities you take for granted. A warm cup of tea, a chair, hearing a bird sing, a child’s laughter, be grateful for each moment. He ended by stating, life is about killing time until you reach your next destination, the afterlife: 人生は冥土までの暇潰し. Put another way life is about penance before reaching heaven: 人生は天国までの苦行.
