"After The Ecstasy, The Laundry" by Jack Kornfield is a book that draws from mostly Eastern religious teachings. Jack Kornfield is a Buddhist Monk and has written many a book and a couple of anthologies of inspirational quotes.
I like books and teachings that originate from the East and particularly Buddhism. The onus is placed on the individual to answer to his or herself and to live with and possibly reconcile the slip-ups we all make as our life progresses.
I think the idea is to know that in the moments before we pass away that we've done the best we could in regards to how we lived our lives, how we interacted with others, both those we Loved and those we may have only been face to face for a few moments and to have lived thoughtfully with the only home we have...Planet Earth.
To die with a clear conscience having done the right things for the right reasons and Loving all those around us...and not to worry about whether we are going to meet a god of some kind to "live" again in the other place. And if there is a god of some kind and you've lived a good life maybe you'll get to meet him anyway.
Wait, the whole God thing requires that you believe in him and do good for him while you are alive...you can live like a saint but if you don't pray to Him and put your Faith in Him he wont let you in! If there is a Hell Buddha is there...
So, back to the book. The title says it all. No matter how you fill your seconds, minutes, hours, days the mundane rituals in life must be dealt with and that's OK. No matter how much stuff we try to cram into our days as if it a race to the end, we still have to address and even celebrate the down time. It's OK if we miss something whether it's the "latest and greatest" reality show on TV (please) or tickets to that big concert or what ever...
Why was it a few Sundays ago when I awoke so early that I felt I needed to be accomplishing something all damn day? It wasn't that I needed to get anything in particular done but that I felt I had to find something to do. The best part of that day was when I fell asleep reading a book sitting on the front porch...
So let's do what we have to do to get along in our go go go world but, let's also remember that flaking out and being UNproductive may be the most PROductive thing we do for our mind, body and soul what ever sort of soul that happens to be.
Peace,
Allan