5. When
I am inside the dojo I
have no trouble closing
my eyes while meditate,
but when I am in the
beach or in the forest,
I am distracted and I
can't keep them closed.
What can I
do?
...They
are not distractions,
instead they are "direct
calls" to open yourself
and be receptive in the
reality of nature. It is
your time to practice
letting go. Without
forcing anything just
breathe, relax and
smile...
... There
are many lessons we can
take from nature. It is
not coincidence that
those who are interested
in Zen or
meditation find
themselves drawn to
natural surroundings and
seek peace and quiet in
the wilderness. It is
not only because they
wish to eliminate
distractions. For some,
it is because they find
that when they are
immersed in nature,
there is almost no need
to meditate! It might be
better said that the
contemplation of nature
and the breathing of
fresh air allows the
meditation to become
more full, alive, and
aware. In a city, or a
situation that has
tension, anxiety, or
danger, the need to
meditate formally (in
the conventional sense
of closed eyes and quite
sitting) is more
immediate and essential
as a balance to external
forces. Imagining a calm place in nature helps
the practitioner return
to relaxed clarity more
readily. |