Redwood Forest, Big Sur, California
It had been a crazy day at work, not unlike most days, I suppose. I was late to my meditation group that evening, and when I pulled up, most of the others were already filtering in the door. I grabbed a sitting pillow and found an open spot on the floor in front of the fireplace. As I sat down and made myself comfortable, I thought, it feels good here.
During the first meditation, with the evening air drifting through the open window and incense floating through the room, I felt released from my burdens and seemed to slip deeper into my pillow. It was like an ointment for my weariness that turned my heart transparent, so the world’s problems could pass through unnoticed. But I hadn’t gone anywhere. Nothing had changed. I was only sitting on a pillow and smelling the fresh air mix with incense …