I recalled finding myself on a night walk in a gentle rain over a year ago in New York. Why I went down one street and not another is fun to ponder. Maybe the street seemed wider and calmer when I try to hone in on my wandering ways between phone calls or finding my way home again after a 15-minute jaunt. I happened to see a piece of paper on the sidewalk, getting flattened by the rain but I thought to pick it up. Was it because there was a photo of Sri Chinmoy on it? I don’t think there was but some flyers I’ve seen since have that.
It did announce a free meditation series once I peeled it up off the sidewalk and took time to focus on the words as though deciphering hieorglyphics or some other code. I thought to lay the paper out on a stone wall with hopes it would dry since it was too wet to carry home. But I memorized the informaion and site (NYC Meditation, fairly easy.) But I thought I would be away that weekend and only when my plans changed had I recalled ‘there was something cool I wanted to check out in New York city..now what was It?’ I had happened to see the same paper in dry happy form on a bulletin board at Pratt Art Institute so I had had some reinforcement.
Then I figured out fairly easily for a newbie to the city how to get to the programs once I contacted the folks about details. One great session of shared insights led to another over the course of the week or so. We were invited to a few more sessions and I meant to keep up with the ‘7 Minutes of Daily Practice” in the morning after waking up. That would mean taking time to sit quietly, possibly focus on a picture or repeat a phrase such as “Om.”
I have to switch gears now, but wanted to skip ahead to say it’s Really Important NOT to park (and om or sing or talk on one’s phone) at a sign that says “No Standing” (during the hours posted unless it means ever…). A newbie to the city paid $186 for this learning experience…so let’s make it count. Donations welcome that I can pass along too! Send to Cath “Parking” Paton PO Box 1148 Sharon CT 06069 if you’d like to help a college kid out. Likely more practical advcie should be mixed in with graduation talks…and even some meditation time shared. A win-win and a way to guide each other gently along life’s sideways and byways…