Meditations...
In August, we spent a week backpacking in the Sierras, near Yosemite, CA. Leaving the fast paced silicon valley life, to spend a week in the wilderness was an experience that caused alot of subtle changes in me...
At home I have the comforts of my sofa, tv, a bed, and most importantly, a bathroom. But in the wilderness it was dirt, trees, rivers, and what I carry on my back for the entire week. I especially missed these comforts when i got food poisoning the first night!
I struggled with trying to deal with the physical pain of hiking with a heavy pack, feeling the physical weakness after recovering from the sickness, and then also having to deal with my thoughts and emotions all while trying to focus on my breath and my next steps. There was no escape. I had to be there fully.
As the week went on though, it was amazing how I could actually feel my self slowing down, my thoughts and emotions calming down. Settling into a place where i smile more, laugh from a deeper place, where whats infront of me IS whats on my mind.
I felt like I was in meditation the entire week. In the beginning, there is alot of unrest, in the mind and in the body, then the thoughts are all over the place, eventually a silence prevails, that is so deep and all that exists is my breath.
It was some of the toughest hiking I have ever done, and yet some of the most beautiful.
The beauty up there is hard to describe in words, here is my attempt:
Where the roaring of the cars,
is replaced by the roaring of the rivers,
the sound of the water, louder than I remember.
The dirt set free
from the clutches of cement,
allowed to roam freely about, without a duster to chase it down.
Weeds, allowed to grow as they please,
instead of having to sneak around the cracks
appreciated,
they are wild flowers here!
Trees that aren't planted in orderly rows
but allowed to let the wind, and rain and sun decide.
The mountains, empty, still , majestic.
not cluttered with electric poles and human dwellings.
Our fellow earthlings
free.
no cages here
no pests here, nor pets. this is home.
Where the same clear wind that touches my face, touches the pink clouds,
touches the water, as the bright sun sets.
Causing ripples to run free, across the many icey, blue lakes...
as free as nature can be...
Isn't this how its meant to be?
At home I have the comforts of my sofa, tv, a bed, and most importantly, a bathroom. But in the wilderness it was dirt, trees, rivers, and what I carry on my back for the entire week. I especially missed these comforts when i got food poisoning the first night!
I struggled with trying to deal with the physical pain of hiking with a heavy pack, feeling the physical weakness after recovering from the sickness, and then also having to deal with my thoughts and emotions all while trying to focus on my breath and my next steps. There was no escape. I had to be there fully.
As the week went on though, it was amazing how I could actually feel my self slowing down, my thoughts and emotions calming down. Settling into a place where i smile more, laugh from a deeper place, where whats infront of me IS whats on my mind.
I felt like I was in meditation the entire week. In the beginning, there is alot of unrest, in the mind and in the body, then the thoughts are all over the place, eventually a silence prevails, that is so deep and all that exists is my breath.
It was some of the toughest hiking I have ever done, and yet some of the most beautiful.
The beauty up there is hard to describe in words, here is my attempt:
Where the roaring of the cars,
is replaced by the roaring of the rivers,
the sound of the water, louder than I remember.
The dirt set free
from the clutches of cement,
allowed to roam freely about, without a duster to chase it down.
Weeds, allowed to grow as they please,
instead of having to sneak around the cracks
appreciated,
they are wild flowers here!
Trees that aren't planted in orderly rows
but allowed to let the wind, and rain and sun decide.
The mountains, empty, still , majestic.
not cluttered with electric poles and human dwellings.
Our fellow earthlings
free.
no cages here
no pests here, nor pets. this is home.
Where the same clear wind that touches my face, touches the pink clouds,
touches the water, as the bright sun sets.
Causing ripples to run free, across the many icey, blue lakes...
as free as nature can be...
Isn't this how its meant to be?
posted by Shveta Puri at 2:06 PM
4 comments
