Photo by Zen Chung

Russell Marlett’s Commentaries on the Book of Wisdom talks about the ordinary and the miraculous and how finding miracles in the ordinary is vital to enlightenment.

Russell Marlett’s Commentaries on the Book of Wisdom is a guidebook in the ordinary and the miraculous; it’s a surprisingly poignant thesis on the importance of finding miracles in the ordinary. 

Each chapter in the book is punctuated by thirty-two verses that have within their words the capacity to change your life if you’re willing to delve deeper into them and their meanings. Regardless, even just a shallow reading is enough for daily motivation and inspiration. 

The simplicity of the text reminds me of the koans (philosophical treatises used for enlightenment in Zen Buddhist schools) in the Book of Equanimity, which was an anthology of koans compiled by the monk Wansong Xingxiu. In particular, I am reminded by the twelfth koan entitled, Jizo Plants the Rice Field, the entirety of which goes:

“Jizo asks Shuzanshu, “Where have you come from?”

Shuzanshu says, “I have come from the South.”

“How is Buddhism in the South these days?”

“There is much lively discussion.”

“How could that match our planting the rice field here and making rice balls to eat?”

Shuzanshu then asks, “How could you save the beings of the Three Worlds?”

Jizo says simply, “What do you call ‘the Three Worlds’?”

Just that last question is very impactful and profound. The monk Jizo directly equates the whole of the Three Worlds with his little rice field. This tells us that what we refer to as the world is entirely dependent on our experiences and our daily interactions. While we may be aware of the larger universe out there, our reality, the thing that we find most important, is only the small sections of the world we partake in. 

What Do You Call the World

Being human means being inundated with chaos every day, so much so that we often take the ordinary things in life for granted. We get so caught up in the chaos of it all that we forget to appreciate the pervasiveness of the beauty that surrounds us. There is something miraculous in every moment if we only learn to look for it, no matter how mundane we think it is. This is why it is important to learn from the lessons of the ancients and find ourselves in the pages of enigmatic literature.

In Buddhism, we are taught to be present at the moment and observe the wider world around us without deep judgment. This allows us to go about finding miracles in the ordinary because we are now paying deeper and more intimate attention to the things that are happening around us concurrently and not only taking stock of them in hindsight. There is peace in the minute details of reality, and there is extreme joy in honing in on them.

Daoism, another ancient school of thought, has a similar idea of presentness but manages to further the idea up another notch by emphasizing equilibrium and harmony. For Daoists, nothing is more sacred and more important than living in accordance with the natural world. Everything is interconnected: the flutter of a butterfly wing contributes to the raging winds of a hurricane a continent away. The death of an animal is the life of another being. There is nothing that occurs without reaction. So, by aligning ourselves with the seemingly fickle nature of the world, we are able to tap into its energy and more easily find balance and tranquility. Through deliberately connecting with nature, we discover our place in its myriad networks and, subsequently, find meaning and deeper purpose.

Finding Miracles in the Ordinary

Ultimately, the principles of both Buddhism and Daoism share a common thread: there is something miraculous in every moment if we only learn to look for it. Only by finding miracles in the ordinary can individuals learn to become more than themselves and better position themselves in the chaos of the world. By staying present in the moment, aligning ourselves with the natural world, and cultivating a sense of spiritual awareness, we tap into a miraculous energy that fills us with a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Of course, finding the ordinary miraculous is challenging. The feat requires practice, patience, and a willingness to change our preconceived notions and biases. Learn to let go of the little ills in life and focus on the small details that make life so wonderfully beautiful.