Spring Cleaning: Finding Equanimity and Peace of Mind in Purification Practices March 31, 2025 15:12

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It started with the table.  I was standing at the sink washing dishes, and as I turned my head, I said aloud, "I can't take this anymore."

The piles of mail...the crumbs...the placemats with dried food stains...the vitamin and spice bottles that seemed to multiply and take over the table.

I knew it was time to do something. I plan a lot of things--I take comfort in planning, actually--but I rarely plan deep-cleaning adventures. I typically fall into them accidentally and organically, mainly because I tend to delay and procrastinate these projects.

But it's Spring Break--and it's the perfect time for spring cleaning adventures. I spent thirty minutes clearing off the table, scrubbing it clean, changing the placemats, and washing the large ceramic bowl that we fill with apples and use as a centerpiece. I sorted through the mail and put away all of the vitamin and spice bottles.

It was a small accomplishment, but I felt better afterwards, and it created more space and warmth in the kitchen.

This small adventure led to my cleaning off the cabinet space next to the fridge, which led, naturally, to Swedish death cleaning the bedroom closet upstairs.

It felt good to sort through and donate clothes that we no longer wear--to sweep away the cobwebs that accumulate in shadowy corners--to toss broken hangers and receipts that piled up on the dresser.

This process of clearing space, making room, and sorting through clutter felt a bit like a purification practice to me.

The following day, I was sitting in the "tiger chair" upstairs during an online meditation practice on Zoom. I've enjoyed these daily meditation sessions for the past few years. They are led by sangha members connected with Sravasti Abbey.

As we were beginning the 35 Confession Buddhas purification practice, I was distracted by the wall across from me, where I keep a framed print of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Instead of completing the usual prostrations and recitations connected with this practice, I took the framed print and other photos off of the wall and dusted the wall with a dry wash cloth. I grabbed a large plastic bowl (one leftover from my daughter's graduation party and perfect for cleaning) and filled it with soapy water. I spent the remainder of the session cleaning the wall and baseboards. I also cleaned and rehung the pictures on the wall.

Again--I noticed a difference--a subtle shift in the energy of the room. I felt lighter and uplifted as a result, and it was nice to listen to a purification practice and Lam Rim meditation while I worked.

For the rest of the week, I did a little bit more each day--one soapy, water-filled bowl at a time--until I had thoroughly cleaned the rest of the living room, the bedroom, and the upstairs bathroom.

This week-long purification process included washing walls, ceilings, and baseboards from top-to-bottom and from left-to-right. I opened the windows and let fresh air flow through the house. Accompanied by the sounds of peeper frogs and birdsong, I cleared away the dust and clutter, making room for something new and welcoming a new season.

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In Buddhism, purification practices such as the 35 Confession Buddhas and Vajrasattva Sadhana have the power to cleanse negative karma, mental defilements, and obscurations that prevent us from progressing on the path of spiritual growth, and, ultimately, liberation from suffering.

I've heard more than one Buddhist teacher recommend completing some kind of purification practice every day in order to continue to make steady progress on the path.

I've found that dedicating a few minutes each day to offering prostrations, completing the 35 Confession Buddhas practice and Vajrasattva recitations to be personally beneficial and satisfying to my own practice. It's like a spiritual cleaning practice--a daily "tidying up" to clear away doubts, regrets, and obstacles. Purification practices help us to find equanimity and peace of mind.

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Spring is ideal for deep cleaning; it's not only good for the home, but also for the physical and mental health of the inhabitants. Clearing away the clutter uplifts spirits and opens spaces for new growth and potential.

Happy Spring, Everyone!

I hope you make time each day to complete your own personal spiritual practices. May they be of benefit to you and to those around you.

If, like me, you are motivated to do a deep Spring cleaning as well, I recommend starting small to avoid overwhelm. Beginning with a table, a cabinet, a drawer, or a small room or closet can foster a sense of accomplishment and provide the motivation to continue your own deep cleaning adventure.


Thank you for taking the time to read or listen to this month's offering. I hope that this new Spring season is treating you well so far.

I have added a few new malas to the current Middle Moon Malas online collection. I also have a few new designs waiting in the wings. Please take a look at the current collection of one-of-a-kind, hand-knotted malas that are designed to inspire and support your own practices.

Enjoy this last day of March--I'll see you again soon at the close of April.