I’d forgotten

Busy, busy, busy, long hours, long commute. I thought I couldn’t make time for meditation. (Make time, interesting expression…)

I don’t mean lectio divina, I don’t mean prayer (although of course lectio includes meditation and prayer), I don’t mean saying the monastic offices, I mean just simply sitting and being.

Not so simple of course, because monkey mind always intrudes, but sitting, becoming aware of the breath: in and out, in and out. Gently setting aside the mental chatter, again and again.

After 20 minutes, modern life intrudes, but quietly in the form of my CD alarm clock giving me a Bach cello concerto by Yo Yo Ma, playing very softly.

And yes I’d forgotten just how important it is for me to take or make the time for this, soon after rising in the morning. I started again only a few days ago and already I feel revitalised, more centred.

Seek truth in meditation, not in moldy books.
Look in the sky to find the moon, not in the pond.

Persian proverb

(Well of course I think moldy books are also very important, but isn’t it a beautiful proverb?)