If you’re anything like me, the you have a bit of a morning practice that sets you off in the right direction every morning (let’s say most mornings, anyway). My morning practice includes some mantra-style affirmations, some writing, and meditation.
I would be the first to tell you that I’m not good at meditation, and then conclude with some quip to the tune of ‘that’s why they call it a practice‘ but the truth is that; as I was hit with some heavy knowledge by an author I pay some attention to, I have been meditating with a preconceived notion of what meditating is.
We’ve seen the images of robe laden monks sitting cross-legged and not speaking for hours, if not days, forever focused on a monosyllabic mantra, tuning themselves to the frequency that harmonizes all of creation – and we all want that kind of peace, right? – so all over the world, people sit on their living room floors, relatively uncomfortable, slumped over, mentally counting backwards until the clock runs out on their practice, ever anticipating another sip of coffee and maybe a swing at the daily Wordle game.
The author to whom I refer is into transcendental meditation. I am not. However, the above scenario is described, though he says ‘I’m free to sit on a chair or lean back’ and as I listen to his audiobook I smarmily think “my preferred meditative position is slouching on the love-seat with my ankles crossed, supported by the coffee table in my living room” and all at once I realize: this is fine. The reason it’s fine is that I have been trying to adhere to what I thought meditating was when what I really needed to do was forget all about that and actually just clear my head. *** I do not wish to belittle or bastardize tradition, and I fully realize the merits of a disciplined practice of ANY kind, but in the interest of ‘starting somewhere’ I would say that I have definitely started ‘somewhere’ and I can always improve. I am certainly taking the ‘stop talking about it and start doing it’ approach, which requires some get-up-&-go; ironically, in the case of meditation.
Even the purpose of a mantra is not purely to give you something to focus on so much as it brings you back when your mind starts to wander. Even acknowledging that proves that your mind wandering is completely natural and there is no shame in it. It’s also worth noting that sitting on your ass on the couch is not the only meditative action you can take. As much as some people will tell you that ‘active meditation isn’t real meditation‘ I will; as a longer and longer distance runner, tell you that’s not correct. Even if it’s not completely meditative, it is at least contemplative, and that time spent in thought is crucially important.
When people tell me they can’t run because of sore knees, it breaks my heart that they are missing out on this immersive and meditative practice. I’ll be the first to admit that running isn’t for everyone, but I also know that the people that get into it through whatever strange avenues take them there are often quite surprised by how much they love it. I hope all the non-runners out there have something similarly meditative and beautiful in their lives.
In the end… it’s best not to get too wound up thinking about how to calm yourself down.
Training this week has been great, and I’m always appreciative of a holiday – it’s an extra day of the week when I can just get lost in the immersive experience of being in the Edmonton River Valley. We are truly grateful to be able to spend time in this valley every day – it’s a true measure of prosperity in our lives.
I took a trip a few hours out of town to perform with Robin Kelly on Thursday night. Navigating these music trips always require a bit of planning as far as food and workouts to, but always feels like a triumph when I make it happen according to plan.
The Conscious Pilgrim 