I’ve made various attempts at seated meditation at different points in my life, with varying success. I find walking is the best meditation for me. I walked the 500 miles of the Camino de Santiago last October by myself and found it very meditative — walking between 13-24 miles in a day, taking in my surroundings, I barely remember actively *thinking* about anything when I was simply moving along, trying to get to my resting place for the night. Not planning what to cook for dinner or what I’d wear the next day or fretting about if I should take the dog to the vet… My brain tends to get stuck in circles, and in meditation that can come in handy.
It was a truly amazing experience. It had been on my radar as something I’d like to do for about 15 years, and last year, celebrating my 60th birthday seemed like the ideal milestone to finally make it happen. It’s a challenge — physical, mental, emotional, spiritual — but one I found truly worthy. Moving slowly across the Spanish landscape, meeting people along the way but mostly indulging my introverted nature, simply putting one foot in front of the other, thousands of times a day, it’s hard to deny its power as a meditative practice when done for 34 days straight!
It truly was incredible. I’m so grateful I was able to take the time to do it, and have the physical capability! I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love to do another — not the same route but another long trek.
You can meditate just about anywhere. It's easy to create a space to go to in your home outside wherever. Some people just like to listen to music and chill out and that's their meditation and that's fine. Other people fine tune it and that's fine too.
I’m way behind bc I’ve had multiple distractions, but I totally believe those that think we can meditate anywhere and under any circumstances. Camino de Santiago has to be an incredible journey. My nephew, who has managed to forgo corporate America for years and travel the world hostel to hostel on a prayer and a dime, shared his experience along the trek, although he only did a partial journey. I think that experience, the sites, the sounds, those he met along the way, the natural world must be with you forever to bring you back into a meditative state, whenever you are even thinking about it. Once you’ve experienced your zen, your nirvana, the energy of your God or whoever you meditate to or with, he/she does not go away, but wanders your life with, you, always willing to come forth when called.
I love what an overthinking brain can do to me sometimes. Getting into this new way of life for me has brought me back to a basic form of my Christian faith. I am finding myself curious about why I am a believer again. Grateful for that. I have always believed that God uses everything to draw us closer to Him, so why not use Zen to understand how we can cultivate a peaceful heart towards ourselves, or humanity? If God can help teach Moses in the wilderness,about trust,which is what I feel like I am in, then I can understand that it is ok to embrace the wilderness. I may need to learn something from it. I try to always learn something new each day about life and the people around me. Life finds a way.
So I really appreciate all of you in this group who have given me advice or words on the subject og Zen. Thanks Kyle for the article 🙏. That is a great video on The Cup. Nice.
Have you seen the documentary on Garry Shandling, "The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling"?
There is a clip in it where Garry shows a picture hanging in his home of monks playing basketball. This video trailer reminded me of that clip. My first intro into thinking something new about monks. "I did not know monks played basketball, very cool". Honestly, how could anyone not think Shandling is a funny man? Loved him for years.
I’ve made various attempts at seated meditation at different points in my life, with varying success. I find walking is the best meditation for me. I walked the 500 miles of the Camino de Santiago last October by myself and found it very meditative — walking between 13-24 miles in a day, taking in my surroundings, I barely remember actively *thinking* about anything when I was simply moving along, trying to get to my resting place for the night. Not planning what to cook for dinner or what I’d wear the next day or fretting about if I should take the dog to the vet… My brain tends to get stuck in circles, and in meditation that can come in handy.
That sounds amazing!
It was a truly amazing experience. It had been on my radar as something I’d like to do for about 15 years, and last year, celebrating my 60th birthday seemed like the ideal milestone to finally make it happen. It’s a challenge — physical, mental, emotional, spiritual — but one I found truly worthy. Moving slowly across the Spanish landscape, meeting people along the way but mostly indulging my introverted nature, simply putting one foot in front of the other, thousands of times a day, it’s hard to deny its power as a meditative practice when done for 34 days straight!
Wow! El Camino! That’s an incredible journey! A friend of mine did it several years ago. She had an unforgettable experience.
It truly was incredible. I’m so grateful I was able to take the time to do it, and have the physical capability! I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love to do another — not the same route but another long trek.
You can meditate just about anywhere. It's easy to create a space to go to in your home outside wherever. Some people just like to listen to music and chill out and that's their meditation and that's fine. Other people fine tune it and that's fine too.
Ok I absolutely love this! And yeah it is interesting topic.
I’m way behind bc I’ve had multiple distractions, but I totally believe those that think we can meditate anywhere and under any circumstances. Camino de Santiago has to be an incredible journey. My nephew, who has managed to forgo corporate America for years and travel the world hostel to hostel on a prayer and a dime, shared his experience along the trek, although he only did a partial journey. I think that experience, the sites, the sounds, those he met along the way, the natural world must be with you forever to bring you back into a meditative state, whenever you are even thinking about it. Once you’ve experienced your zen, your nirvana, the energy of your God or whoever you meditate to or with, he/she does not go away, but wanders your life with, you, always willing to come forth when called.
I love what an overthinking brain can do to me sometimes. Getting into this new way of life for me has brought me back to a basic form of my Christian faith. I am finding myself curious about why I am a believer again. Grateful for that. I have always believed that God uses everything to draw us closer to Him, so why not use Zen to understand how we can cultivate a peaceful heart towards ourselves, or humanity? If God can help teach Moses in the wilderness,about trust,which is what I feel like I am in, then I can understand that it is ok to embrace the wilderness. I may need to learn something from it. I try to always learn something new each day about life and the people around me. Life finds a way.
So I really appreciate all of you in this group who have given me advice or words on the subject og Zen. Thanks Kyle for the article 🙏. That is a great video on The Cup. Nice.
Have you seen the documentary on Garry Shandling, "The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling"?
There is a clip in it where Garry shows a picture hanging in his home of monks playing basketball. This video trailer reminded me of that clip. My first intro into thinking something new about monks. "I did not know monks played basketball, very cool". Honestly, how could anyone not think Shandling is a funny man? Loved him for years.
🙏🏼