A warning — you do have to achieve a remarkable level of stillness to acquire the degree of paying attention he is aiming at. Don't worry if you can't quite get there.
If you are more a beginner at this stillness, you could think of your own entry-level set of aspirations. For example:
May I grow still enough to hear the stealthy rustling of a ninja child who has broken into the tin of Celebrations, so that I may intervene before it makes itself actually sick.
May I grow still enough to hear the very first churning of the cat's powerful stomach muscles, so that I still have time to sprint along the passage and hurl it into the garden before it vomits up a hairball onto the pale cream carpet.
May I grow still enough to hear the quiet steps on the front path of the delivery man who leaves a "You were out" note without bothering to check, so that I can actually get my hands on the Christmas present I bought my mother online.
Here are some of my own personal goals:
May I grow still enough to hear the occasional buzz of the sleeping wasp I unfortunately brought in on the firewood then it woke up and is now at large in the sitting room, so that I don't tread on it if it's crawling about on the floor and get my foot stung.
May I grow still enough to notice the passing of time more attentively so that I don't get involved in the internet and boil my coffee for 55 minutes instead of half an hour.
Uh-oh . . . that last one . . . see you later. Don't grow too still, someone might tread on you like that wasp.
12 comments:
:-D One of the phrases I hear from my 9 year old quite often is, "But, Mummy, how did you know I was there?!"
"Because I have made myself so very still that I can even hear the smallest sounds at the core of the earth . . . "
ha, i used to hang out with br. david way back in the day when he had his 'house of prayer' in connecticut. doing dishes with him after a group supper was an experience in mindfulness. he was the first benedictine monk that i had met and fostered my life-long attachment to st. benedict's 'middle way'. he was also very influential in linking christian prayer with zen meditation which opened up a whole new world to me. it's lovely to see his words about stillness, especially during this lovely advent season.
A recollected and poetic soul. x
Quietly chuckling!! Especially the ninja kid who is unable to outwit his Grandma!! Happy Advent lovely friend and your stories of Rosie and Sid are my favourite bedtime read :-)
Hooray! I'm glad you like Rosie and Sid!
:0D
xx
a beautiful prayer. As an early morning walker, it is always dark and peaceful, I enjoy my hour to my self, it grounds my day and is good for body, mind, and soul.
Funnily, I prefer walking in the dark, there is enough light emitted by surrounding homes etc. and I have no fear for my safety. So walking in the dark seems, I don't know, cocoonish in a way, I am not distracted, I am only focused on my immediate steps, not looking ahead, not looking behind, or around, there is little human activity outside, it provides a stillness in a way, a very calming stillness that recharges me each and every morning.
Peace be with you,
Bean
🌘 ✨. 👣. ♥
I have no idea why that heart came out black. It was meant to be a normal red one depicting you loving your walk under the moon and stars, not some kind of nasty cryptic insinuation about your little black heart . . .
xx
LOL. and in everyday things with many grandchildren over, I have learned to listen for the noises that truly do require a stern grandmotherly, "what was that?" response LOL.
Anyway, practicing stillness of mind, and taking time to listen, truly listen is a skill, one we should always work on.
I have decided that living in the moment is the way to go, I look back at my life and realize what a great time I was having at this point and that, but remember too that at the time that I was always looking forward to what would be next, no more of that nonsense, I want full immersion in the now, and that takes a strong resolve to still the mind lol :)
Peace be with you,
Bean
In the early morning darkness all hearts are black.
It's a lighting issue, not a moral one.
The older I get the more stillness and solitude I require. I think I shall borrow your phrase about being able to hear the smallest sounds at the core of the earth -- I can just see my granddaughter Miriam's eyes now... xoxo
Bean — silence, solitude, simplicity — building blocks of spirit. x
Rapunzel — aha! — I see you are right! x
Julie B — oh, yes, Miriam! She'd be listening so hard! x
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