…The Chinese word for “busy” is composed of two characters: “heart” and “killing”. When we make ourselves [or our kids] so busy that we are always rushing around trying to get this or that “done” or“over-with”, we kill something vital in ourselves, and we smother the quiet wisdom of our heart. When we invest our work with judgment and impatience, always striving for speed and efficiency, we lose the capacity to appreciate the million quiet moments that may bring us peace, beauty, or joy. As we seek salvation through our frantic productivity and accomplishments, we squander the teachings that may be present in this very moment, in the richness of this particular breath.
This little tidbit is found here in a longer essay/sermon. I have some issues with the new-agey trend of finding multiple meanings in Chinese characters - it's often in error as the translation is not grounded in a cultural context. However, I'll remember this one! Good sermon to read as well.
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