Reflection and mediation: Bamboo in the Wind

Reflection: Bamboo in the wind and Balance

I have been thinking and conversing  a lot about balance with my friends as they have been sharing their  sense of being very overwhelmed and out of balance lately  and as I read The Book of Joy by Dalai Llama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

My sense is that we tend to think of being in balance as being perfectly poised and centered at all times, like being perfectly symmetrical or like standing motionless in mountain pose – remaining stable, constant, and unmoving.

Yet life is ever in motion, constantly changing – bringing us all kinds of weather and seasons –and often bringing us what we perceive as imbalance…

I began remembering  back to when I was teaching design and visual balance where the stereotype of balance is symmetry. However many artists push these boundaries with very off center compositions that, to work, are actually quite balanced:

Like a tightrope walker in a precarious movement – tilting and tilting yet remaining in balance as otherwise the walker would be falling..so too, a dancer pushing the extremes of motion yet always in a flow of balance..

The Dalai Llama  and Archbishop Tutu and speak of finding balance using the metaphor of a bamboo tree swaying and bending in the wind – no matter how stormy or calm the weather.. remaining fluid, constant, resilient, and balanced.

The Dalai Llama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu speak about bending without breaking and the inner nourishment of hope, joy, compassion, connection, and open heartedness – in a way, the path of softening and untightening, becoming expansive through loving kindness and  compassion and compassion – being able to feel the suffering in our lives and all around us yet finding the inner resilience and love to remain hopeful and keep going … and of course, nurturing and watering our practice of mindfulness.

“In humility 
It bows, rooted to the ground 
Bending in the wind ….

When the wind blows hard 
The bamboo tree dances, sways 
Submitting itself 
To the caprices of wind 
Flaccid, unresisting 

When the other trees 
Are broken from the wind's blow 
With their leaves and twigs 
Ravished by the passing storm 
The bamboo tree stands……fully…”

Nudershana  Cabales

Just as An old Japanese proverb states

“ Bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists…”

The bamboo’s capability of swaying and bending in the wind , returning to center – to equanimity – and of maintaining a gentle flow of fluid motion – is a source of great strength and resilience  that reminds me of how our mindfulness practices nourish our own capabilities of bending in the wind and not breaking. Our practice nourishes our inner balance, our compassion and open heartedness, our capabilities of finding connection with others, sharing joy and gratitude and beauty – all sources of inner joy and resilience during times of calm and in the midst of great turmoil, suffering, despair,  frustration and fear, discouragement and sorrow.

Meditation

Transition to Seated position

I invite you to settle in to a comfortable, supportive position that is best for your body today. Standing, Seated, Lying down or a combination. If possible with the back straightish  and your head up yet relaxed –with your hands in your lap or at your sides or on the arms of the chair, and your feet flat on the ground  -  consider whatever is best  for you and your body. .  As we go forward, feeling free to adjust your position and move as needed –at any time - always whatever will be best for you .

BELL Beginning  

I invite you to close your eyes, if that feels comfortable, or to softly lower your gaze, supporting  a shift from  the room and all that has come before in the day , as you  settle into this moment - and  your chosen position.

Now,  as you are ready,

Let us bring our attention inward, noticing  the body and how it feels to simply be sitting  in this position, noticing wherever  your body is supported :  perhaps your back, your sit-bones,  the back of your head, or shoulders…your legs…  just feeling the weight of the body, and your feet on the floor.. noticing any sensations of  support  and balance.  

And then traveling the flash light of  your attention into the hands  at rest - and noticing any feelings and sensations of your hands and fingers , your palms and thumbs and fingertips – are they cold or warm – moist or dry… -How are you holding them – open or closed, bent or straightened, together or apart - 

are they soft or tight –feeling them begin to soften, and grow heavy in your lap  as you give them your gentle attention…sending them comfort and ease and gratitude for all they do all day long…

Pause

… Now  bringing the light of your attention all the way down to the feet and toes   that  ground us and connect us to the earth…Are they cold, warm, tingly, perhaps you want to stretch out your toes?  Are you barefoot in socks or shoes? Do you notice any textures or the  sensation of  your feet touching the ground …. These feet that help balance you all day long , supporting you and guiding you in  so many movements .. let us send them gratitude, comfort and ease, as they rest in the present moment….

Pause

And Now up into the face – noticing any areas of tension of tightness that could be softened: your forehead, the areas around your eyes, your cheeks or jaw ……letting these muscles soften and grow heavy with gravity – maybe even smiling  - our yoga for the face -

Then down into the neck and shoulders , letting these muscles soften, unwind, and grow heavier and heavier, letting gravity pull them downwards, sending them your attention and care, …. maybe even doing a few small shoulder rolls for comfort  as you feel them unwinding….

Pause

And then bringing our attention to the Breath - noticing the sensations of the breath and the natural rhythm of our breathing wherever this comes most naturally to you. You may want to place one hand on the chest and one hand over the belly to help you  as we bring our attention to the breath. Perhaps noticing the sensations of the air in the nostrils  - cool or warm, dry or moist…, as the air passes gently inwards and outwards,

Or the soft rise and fall of the chest with each breath in and out

Or  the belly rising and falling with each inbreath and outbreath,

Or a bit of each as we bring our awareness to the natural rhythm of the breath in your body.

Pause

As we continue, noticing  the gentle energy and natural rhythm of your body, I invite you to  broaden and scan the flash light of your attention across the whole body  -Noticing  any places of tightness or discomfort  that  may need some extra care, bringing them your attention , inviting them to soften  and grow heavy with gravity ….inviting  the energy of love and tenderness to these areas, … just as you would comfort a small child….

Pause

And then Noticing any places of ease or even non- sensation– all our non-toothache areas – that we tend to not notice and take for granted - and sending these areas your appreciation and gratitude for all that is actually well in the body …. Sending our care and attention all through the body.

Pause

Filling our body with the energy of kindness and comfort,

Pause

Inviting the whole body to soften gently in this moment of calm and peaceful rest– as much as is comfortable or possible in this moment – with no judgements or needs of fixing……softening, opening,

welcoming calm and peace, compassion, and loving kindness – feeling the expansive spaciousness of loving kindness and tenderness.

Pause

Welcoming in loving kindness as you give your attention  and care to all the parts of the body –appreciating and sending gratitude to the amazing ecosystem of the body – all these trillions of cells -  just as we are right now in this present moment.

Pause

And each time our mind wanders away into thinking  - we are experts at thinking –guiding it gently back to your anchor or touchstone – your hands – your feet, your breath or which-ever area of the body is best for you -  Letting your thoughts pass like clouds in the sky and settle softly  like the snow in a snow globe…back down to the ground of your body…

Pause

As we continue shining the light of our attention and  gratitude throughout our whole body, let us return the attention to the feet and toes,  inviting comfort and ease to rise up from the feet into the body -  like the sap in a tree rising upwards from the root system to all parts of the tree – filling the tree with the life - and nourishment…

Let us Invite  the nourishment of peace – ease -  and comfort  to flow upward , just as the sap in the tree, rising and expanding– into the legs – the hips, the torso – your arms and hands – your shoulder and neck – your face and back of the head -through the whole body  to the very top of your head- rising skyward - and  then softly flowing down again -  becoming a gentle waterfall flowing downward into to all parts of your body … flowing through all parts of you  nourishing you and refreshing you like a gentle spring rain…

Pause

Rain…water…sap…energy….nourishment …balance

Bathing you in calm and ease, acceptance and gratitude

Watering you with comfort and peacefulness,

Filling your whole body with the gentle energy and warmth of loving kindness, softness and strength…

With  peace,  calm,  comfort,  and ease…

Pause

As we come to a close for this practice,

letting this flow of loving kindness, softness and strength, expand  deeply inwards while radiating  ever outwards as we share the ancient words of loving kindness – nourishing ourselves and all others with loving kindness . Letting these ancient words wash over you, maybe repeating them after me, or changing them as is most meaningful for you…

May I and all beings be safe from harm

May I and all beings be free from suffering

May I and all beings have comfort and ease

May I and all beings have  peace and equanimity

May we all be filled with joy and compassion

May we all  be healed

And may we all grow and blossom with mindfulness and loving kindness

BELL

Transition

As we slowly start to bring the attention outward,

You may want to lift your gaze, open your eyes, move your shoulders and stretch out a bit ….

Giving  yourself a gentle hug in gratitude for giving yourself – your body  - this stream of attention and awareness….and care

being thankful for these moments of mindfulness and loving kindness  we have shared together -  nourishing ourselves and one another – 

Thank you…