While Walking

On Saturday I attempted to practice walking meditation while taking that really long walk. I took this picture that day. I listened to Narayan on my I-Pod, thinking that I would do double-duty: get in the long walk and "meditate" at the same time. It totally did not work. Here is a lovely description of how it is supposed to go:

"While walking, let go of any goal-orientation. Simply let yourself walk slowly, carefully, with full awareness of the space you are walking in. Let go of any intention to get anywhere. Listen to whatever draws you in the landscape—a particular tree, rock, stream, or a vast open vista. Or perhaps a lizard or beetle draws you into a conversation. Let your senses be wide open and receptive. Give little attention to your thoughts and instead keep turning to your inner and outer environment. If you begin to feel spacey or unfocused, resume sitting meditation, centering attention upon the breath. The less you do outwardly, the more will open
to you.

—Mark Coleman, ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ (Summer 2005)

I find that formal seated meditation works best for me.

Nothing about today was particularly remarkable. Which means that I basically wasted a whole day. I drove to work (boring -- it was beautiful and I would have preferred to bike) because I met some friends for dinner and it would have been too far to bike. Attended staff meeting, saw patients. Rather dull.