April 2, 2026
Simplify and Open Up
Many of us can relate to the sight of clutter piling up on a desk or in a corner of the house: a slow build of obligation to be dealt with at some undetermined time. When the objects or documents we think we might need but haven’t given a home start to add up, we might notice a low, persistent hum of irritation. It may become more difficult to settle our minds in meditation or move freely from one task to the next.
If any of this rings true, this week’s Three Teachings might offer the motivation you need to do a little spring cleaning. A professional organizer offers guidance for finding a place for your most-used objects and tips for shedding the rest. A Japanese Buddhist monk explains the cultural and spiritual significance of cleaning, and a writer reflects on the spaciousness she uncovers when she really attends to her attachments and lets go of the theoretical future that keeps her accumulating stuff.
“There are no guarantees we’ll make it to breakfast,” writes Tina Lear. “It takes courage to see all that — to know that this is it, right here, and there’s nothing else. But when we do, then letting go … is not such a problem.” It becomes a practice. | 
