There are some interesting comments being left. A couple of dogs sitting with their people…waiting to be fed. And a chap stopping work dead on 5.00 pm to sit for a bit.
Life continues. We are fortunate, so very fortunate.
Park benches can be a great place to take a moment to be still, to regroup, settle and then move on. There is always a place to sit however making the time to do that is not so easy. Deciding to stop at a bench, or wall, to sit4amo while on a mission is a huge ask of oneself. Walking has a momentum, missions have a press to complete, arriving on time is important.
I’m finding the pre-arrangement to sit at 5.00 pm each day this month a great help. I know that I am committed to stop then and even if it’s just one minute that’s fine. The momentum of activity and the press to finish a task are eclipsed by my greater intention to simply stop.
See Meditation Mantra – #still4amo for background information.
This post is for all those who find themselves in an unhappy and challenging place. Sometimes sitting still and simply that, is enough to do Great Good. That’s for oneself and for others. And getting up from the meditation bench, an alone place just for one, and walking into the next thing is quite often enough too. The way may not be clear however keeping ones feet moving is significant.
17th January. The last paragraph of this post has been removed because it might possibly have been misunderstood as my advocating passivity.
Julius who sends in links quite regularly told me he is going to be on retreat for a month, starting 5.00 pm Sunday. That’s today. It’s not going to be an up-the-hill and off-grid kind of retreat. More carrying on daily life with work and the rest and at the same time injecting some serious intention to sit regularly, twice a day. When somebody does this I like to support them by adding more purposeful moments of sitting still in my day. Thus my still4amo mantra to remind me to – sit still for a moment! Literally. Want to join us?
I have my alarm set for 16.50 GMT to warn me to pull over if I am driving or simply find a place to sit. A bench in the street if necessary. I will then be sitting-for-a-mo at 5.00 GMT, one minute to be exact, in support of Julius’s efforts. Please join us and leave a comment if you plan to be still4amo. If 5.00 pm doesn’t work, choose another time. Commitment and intention go a long way, collective commitment and intention goes even further.
It is thought to be helpful to meditate in the presence of others doing the same thing. If one can’t sit with a group then meditating at a time when others are meditating is a good idea. In the monastery here in Britain there is a meditation period at 8.10 pm for 40 mins. I know some people aim to sit formally at that time too.
Watch Moment Meditation for inspiration.
