Wherever You Go Be There?

Wherever You Go Be There?

Dear Mindful Writers and Readers,

Wherever You Go There You Are. What a poetic and to the point title of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s book! This volume describes mindful meditation with such clarity and ease that you learn all it has to teach with joyful vivre that only an excellent teacher can inspire. 

However, for my own use I’ve modified the title to Wherever You Are Be There. If you’re at home be there, going for a walk be there, having dinner with your family be there. Wherever you are soak up the atmosphere with all your senses. Always.

If the anxious thoughts from past or fear of future run through your mind like a waterfall or coursing river, bring your attention to your breath. Moment to moment exhaling and inhaling will bring you to Wherever You Are.

Go for a walk. Sit silently on a bench for ten to fifteen minutes. One by one, attend to your five senses. First the sight: look around you. Various shades of viridian are visible in grass, bushes, trees. Its a beautiful sunny day. Imagine a pond with cascading fountain. Visualize the shimmering streams making droplets glitter on gentle concentric circles become larger and larger disappearing into the muddy edges of the pond. A family of mallards glide by.

Now attend to the sounds. Do you hear splashing water and chirping of birds? Breathe in the fresh air and sense the gentle breeze cooling your skin. The greenery, the birds, the bees, the water may not be self-conscious but these all are conscious to some level. Feel connected with everything within the space within you, around you and beyond you. Become one with everything.   

Walk back home focusing on the movement of your feet and legs. Allow each moment to be exactly as it is. And allow yourself to be exactly as you are. Stay with yourself. Enjoy the calm you gain by eliminating the gap between the mind and the heart. How joyful! How heartful!

With love,

Madhu