On the palace grounds lived a monk named Harvey. The king and queen enjoyed the company of many great monks and gave them private huts scattered across the estate. The royal couple found it entertaining to see the skinny yogis sitting upright, facing the sun, breathing, and meditating.
Among these monks was Harvey, a man somewhere between 48 and 55 years old. He was in good shape and had a positive attitude. Harvey spent a good portion of his day exercising, manicuring his lawn, feeding the birds, and keeping his yoga and meditation area spotless. However, every day, he left his hut with his bed unmade.
One day, his close friend, Brother Ananda, noticed this and said, "Harvey, I noticed your bed wasn’t made when I peeked into your hut the other day. Care to explain?"
Harvey replied, "Not really, I don’t even notice that I do that."
Brother Ananda suggested, "I think you should get into the habit of making your bed before you start your day."
Harvey shrugged, "What’s the point? I’m just going to mess it up later. It’s not like I work on my bed."
Brother Ananda persisted, "Well, let's figure this out. It’s quite dusty out here in the garden. I think it’s better if the dust sits on top of your blanket, so when you’re underneath, you’re touching clean sheets."
Harvey responded, "I don’t care much about dust. I mean, I’m just an animal; I came from dust."
Brother Ananda continued, "It’s also about discipline. Making your bed first thing in the morning can build your confidence and set your intention for the day. You’re being compassionate to your nighttime self, who will appreciate a made bed later. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to practice those deep breathing exercises we worked on."
Harvey agreed to try. However, on the second day, he forgot to make his bed and fell back into his old pattern. This on-and-off effort continued for about eight months.
One day, Harvey bumped into Brother Ananda again. "How’s it going with your bed-making practice?" Ananda asked.
Harvey sighed, "I’ve been trying, but I keep forgetting. I’ve been working on many other aspects of my self-development. I’m going to try again."
Brother Ananda said, "Maybe you should just let it go and return to the messy bed. Perhaps this practice isn’t for you if it causes you stress."
In that moment, Harvey became enlightened. He bowed his head to his friend and said, "Thank you, Master, for teaching me a great lesson. I had already established that making my bed was a skillful and compassionate practice for my nighttime self. My morning self knows it’s a great meditation practice and the first logical thing to do. But in practice, I forgot and got distracted."
Harvey continued, "I will now write a reminder: 'I make my bed in the morning,' and pin it to the headboard. I will make this my most important practice until it becomes a habit I cannot release."
Harvey left, and the two friends did not meet again for five years. When they did, Brother Ananda asked, "How’s it going with the bed-making?"
Harvey beamed, "It’s unbelievable. I started making my bed so precisely that I wrote a book called 'The Art of Making Your Bed.' It’s a national bestseller, and I’m about to fly to Paris for a book signing tour."
And so, Harvey's journey of enlightenment began with the simple act of making his bed, showing that even the smallest disciplines can lead to great transformations. Plus, now he’s got a tidy bed and a tidy book deal!
