I think that a birthday morning should include seated practice. Unfortunately, this particular birthday morning did not. Instead, it included much facebook-ing, birthday wishes, emails, tiredness, lazing around, eating breakfast, drinking coffee, hugging girlfriend, and generally being a delinquent.
Fast-forward to the end of the work day, and I must find time for practice in an otherwise busy (and potentially fun-filled) evening. I decide to do walking meditation on my trek home...
I live near a ravine and our subway stop exits onto a gravel trail through trees. Instead of the usual iPod-fog of a walk home, I decided to pay attention to breath and movement. Finding the natural rhythm of breath and a slow yet inconspicuous walking pace, I headed out amongst the dog walkers, cyclists, joggers, and pedestrians. Gaze forward, paying attention to surroundings as well as the feeling of breath and body. Squirrel gathering seeds up in a tree... Dog running alongside a jogger... Two cyclists meandering by... Feeling gravel under my feet... irregular breath cycle... book in hand... arms moving with the momentum of walking. Number eight lamp-post. Trek through the small trail, across the plank, over the fallen trees, and up the rather steep hill. Noticing birds, air quality, happy to be in nature momentarily instead of the usual removed feeling of urban life. Pleasant feeling tone...
What do I see? A rabbit not even three meters away. It pauses. I pause. It does its chewing-nibbling-rabbit-thing. I watch. Mindful of experience both internal and external. I take a step forward. It takes a few steps. I continue my climb up the hill as the rabbit simply watches nibbling unafraid.
Huh. How about that...
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