Time To Catch Up

From Sit Illustrated: The Meditation Cartoon Book

I've been a bit overwhelmed lately. Really overwhelmed actually. As a privileged Northerner, far from any drilling rig, I let the oil disaster get the best of my psyche. Other smaller disappointments and failures had wormed their way in there as well. I went on my annual silent Vipassana meditation retreat on July 16 (actually it was a combo Metta/Vipassana retreat) and I am back facing the world just as it is. So of course, while I was sitting, walking, sitting, walking, trying to figure out what abiding in awareness actually feels like (still don't quite get it but that's ok) my friend Shirley Sherrod got caught in the far right's pseudo investigative meat grinder. As most of you know, she acquitted herself quite admirably. I'm sorry to say the Obama Administration not so much.

The oil flow has been staunched, the economy continues to be difficult for many but we have the example of Shirley Sherrod to inspire our equanimity in the face of difficulty and perseverance as we struggle for justice and peace.

Walking Meditation

One of the primary practices of Theravadin Buddhism is walking meditation.  It is a way of developing mindfulness in one of our most common daily activities, moving through the world.  In a presidential campaign every activity, even a simple one like walking, is filled with distractions -- what's the address, who will I be speaking to, is this person committed to Obama, leaning our way or another way, what campaign material should I leave -- so that most other sensations go unnoticed.  How does my foot feel against this exquisitely rickety porch stair? Is the wind blowing around my knees warm or cool?  What sensations are pleasant? Unpleasant? Neutral?

And what about the other impressions, of people's suffering?  And the judgments that arise in me -- about the way people live, the conditions of neighborhoods, houses, yards -- as I go about my job for this week, knocking on doors, handing out campaign material, hoping this is the most compassionate thing I can do right now.  

There is another practice, called Metta, which the Buddha taught his monks as a way of overcoming fear of all manner of creatures as they did sitting and walking meditation in a forest dominated by tree spirits.  So for all those I have met these last six days --  

May all beings be happy. May all beings be safe and protected from harm, may all being be healthy and strong, may all being live with ease of well-being.