Meditation and Peace in our Cities
On plastic grass in front of Federal building in downtown San Diego, a group of 35 people sat together, silently and in peace. Following our breathing, aware of sounds but not taken away by them, we brought stillness, ease and joy to ourselves. We offered it to all the people in the City and the World as we closed our Sitting is Peace with the Chant May the Day be Well. For me to practice sitting meditation like that is so empowering, to bring what is so precious to me to the city and offer our presence, offering an alternative to the running, lights up my heart. I was also aware the our teacher Thay had been practicing sitting in London a few hours before and allowed myself to be in contact with our world wide community.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Wake Up Tour group spent half an hour in the Rose Garden in Balboa Park, enjoying the roses and each others company. We had time to listen and share to each others experiences. We were able to enjoy the present moment and the sunshine as we sat in the real green dwarf grass. We were not waiting for the Walking is Peace event to start to nourish our happiness and peace. We gathered around the fountain at El Prado with a group of around 70 people and there we sang: We are all moving..., I have arrived, I am home & Now I walk in beauty. We made an aspiration to be in contact with our steps, relaxing, enjoying each step. We knew that the earth and many people on this planet need our love and care. So when we walked, touching to wonders of nature, of the city and each other, we also opened up our hearts to many beings in all directions. It is so wonderful to walk together, to have a way to live our life. My heart is at peace.
