Friday, April 12, 2013

Kissing the Earth

When we walk like rushing, we print anxiety and sorrow on the earth. We have to walk in a way that we only print Peace and Serenity on the earth... Be aware of the contact between your feet and the Earth.

Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

I just read these words on another blog (here – Jan is always making me think!). I often walk like my mother these days – full speed ahead as if there will be a prize (like maybe cake!) if I get there more quickly.

[No, I’m not cake obsessed – what makes you say that?]

Anyway, as I’m walking tonight I’m going to try to keep Thich Nhat Hanh’s words in mind. I’ll walk with peace and serenity, caressing creation instead of stomping on it.

13 comments:

  1. I'll be curious how this works for you.

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  2. And walk outside tomorrow in the sun and think of Kahlil Gibran, "Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."

    I'll think of you this evening.

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  3. Why not both...? Walking full speed ahead is good for your heart, walking while caressing creation is good for your soul.

    Love that expression, "while caressing creation." ♥

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  4. I love this. Thich Nhat Hanh and many other Buddhist teachers are very good at helping us be mindful of things we do every day without thinking.

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  5. Just checking on you. Hope all went well.

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  6. Trying to walk softly and considerately! can't wait for bare feet!

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  7. I walk full speed ahead, too, but I think that's because it's either always snowing, raining, windy or just plain cold. I'll kiss the earth when it warms up!

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  8. Well everyone, we survived, although we left the event an hour early (11:00). Dr. M had been there since 2:00 (I went up after work)& he was in some sort of zombie-like state by 9:00. I wanted to go ahead & send him home, but he was the only one who could break the tent down.

    I did do a couple of laps trying to walk mindfully, slowly, thinking about the blessing that the people I was walking for had been to me. But merciful heavens it was COLD and WINDY. And it was a college campus, so there was really loud music. I think I'll save real meditative walking for the Fen :)

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  9. This is something Rick needs to read/hear. He is a stomper. His sudden, harsh movements EVERYWHERE are terrible and dire. And he wonders why Piper (the cat) is so skittish around him.

    I wonder if the person who wrote that was a cat owner? I'll bet he was.

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  10. what a great thought...my feet are not really fit to be seen in public at the moment!...but come the really warm weather I shall disrobe them..is that the right expression?...and then walk peace on the back garden.....lovely

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  11. I need to do more walking. I'll think of this advice as I do it. I go a lot slower these days.

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  12. As Master Lau has taught us, even the longest journey must begin where you stand...the journey of a thousand miles begins beneath your feet, or with a single step, as it is usually said in English. We stood, we walked, we sat, we reflected. It was cold, but we found warmth in each other's company, along with very welcome fire pits provided by our university. The Student Center was kept open, as well, so many people sat in there when they were not walking, and the bathrooms were warm! All in all, we had it easy, compared to days in the lives of those dealing with cancer. Thank you all for your encouragement on this and The Bug's other post!

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Thanks for stopping by - I'd love to hear what you have to say!

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