Timeless Truths

There are timeless truths which transcend culture, religion, language, distance, and are immune to centuries of change.  I recently discovered one while reading Essays in Idleness by Kenko, a 13th century Japanese Buddhist monk. 

One of my biggest and most persistent stressors is the feeling that I'm overwhelmed with projects and responsibilities and will never catch up.  As soon as I cross one thing off my to-do list, two more things appear.  Many a night I lie awake worrying about all the tasks waiting for me to complete.  And when I fantasize about traveling to somewhere on my bucket list, the dream is quickly dismissed.  I can't go now, there's too much to do. 

Weren't answering machines and fax machines and computers and laptops and cell phones supposed to make our lives easier?  Wasn't that the promise when they were selling us all that crap?  They lied.  Because I'm way busier with much less leisure time than before. 

So maybe my plight is the fault of the time we live in.  Maybe it's a 21st century, first-world problem.  

Nope.  Apparently there is nothing new about this phenomenon, because Kenko knew all about it.  The Buddhist monk.  In Japan.  In the 13th century.  

"A man who has determined to take the Great Step should leave unresolved all plans for disposing of urgent or worrisome business.  Some men think, 'I'll wait a bit longer, until I take care of this matter,' or 'I might as well dispose of that business first,' or "I'll wait till that matter is cleared up.  I mustn't be hasty.'  But if you think in such terms, the day for taking the Great Step will never come, for you will keep discovering more and more unavoidable problems, and there will never be a time when you run out of unfinished business."

Everything has changed, and nothing has changed.