Long Walks On Leafy Streets

12/28/2014 The Cemetery of Our Lady of the Snow, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
I have been taking a break from work, generally speaking, during the past couple of weeks. As has become customary these days, I tend to go on periods of continuous activity that come to a stop when the body simply breaks down and I find myself with no energy to spend on anything requiring even a little bit of serious effort. Soon after returning from Montreal I caught a cold that is only now on its way out. But I think the body was at a point where it needed rest, or else the immune system would have been able to overcome the virus. I did continue my routine of meditation and running and that helped to provide some support for the immune system. Otherwise it was time for a break anyway, so I have been resting. I watched some parts of the second cricket test match between India and Australia in Brisbane. Cricket was introduced to India as a colonial game.
But when you look at it without that filter it is quite a beautiful game, being played on a green, grassy field in the bright sun. It is also relaxing to watch, for the most part, especially test cricket.
While in Montreal I started a practice of sitting quietly for about half an hour every evening. I wouldn’t quite call it meditation, only because I was not consciously trying to focus my mind. My aim was to simply let the mind calm down. During the day the mind is filled with so much activity, with thoughts and emotions generated both from within and without. It becomes like a turbulent sea, with the surface full of rolling waves. When you sit down and simply surrender to the present moment, it is almost like the wind stops blowing and slowly the waves die down. It takes time, though. The thoughts have a momentum of their own and keep sloshing around inside. Or you might be just tired and the brain might try to shut down and fall into sleep. But I make no effort to stop it, instead just maintaining an attitude of surrender. Only when you try to make something happen the thoughts continue to arise. When you are not trying anything the waves slow down and the mind relaxes.
I found this practice to be quite refreshing so much so that I am going to do it every weekday from now on. Apart from the traditional prayer/meditation (sandhyavandanam) these days I spend half an hour in the evening letting the mind rest. During the past two weeks I was able to do that and it has helped me in dealing with the illness as well as keep the mind calm and balanced in general. When I was not able to sit at home because I was going somewhere I would do the same during walking or traveling on the bus. Thich Nhat Hanh teaches people to do walking meditation. In fact he tries to emphasize the fact that meditation and mindfulness are to be practiced every moment of one’s life. When you practice quietness in the mind during walking or on the bus the world comes truly alive. You see the beauty of the world as is. You are not projecting your own happiness or unhappiness onto it.
The past two weeks have also been the time for celebrations. Last Saturday we hosted a group of friends at our home for a holiday party. We have also been attending holiday parties hosted by others. On Christmas day Nicole and I had a quiet celebration at our home. On Friday night we brought my parents to stay at our place for one night because both my sisters were away. On the way we showed them the Christmas lights in the city. There is a church near the intersection of Eastern Ave and 16th Street that puts on a particularly elaborate light exhibition, with manger scenes and other Christmas stories. We all enjoyed driving by that scene at night. This is a particularly happy Christmas for my family given that we just learned from the Doctor that all is going well with Nicole and the four-month-old baby that she is carrying. Yesterday morning I went for a run along the Rock Creek. On weekends the park service closes Beach drive between Broad Branch Drive and Western Ave. It brought back to me memories of the time when I used to live in Columbia Heights and spent much time in Mt. Pleasant and in the Rock Creek Park. It was also great to run along the creek instead of on the streets. Although I ran only for twenty minutes, it was a blissful time on a quiet Saturday morning with nothing but the cool embrace of the forest and the creek.

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