Breathing in, I see myself as still water.
Breathing out, I reflect things as they are.
Water/Reflecting.
When I was young I was fascinated with streams, brooks, rivers, and all forms of running water. The sights and sounds of moving water a reminder of the flow of time and life, ever-moving and ever-changing.
It was only later in life that I started appreciating the qualities of still waters. They called me to them from different parts of the world, perhaps sensing the eddies and whirlpools of confusion that raged in my heart-mind during those times. And, so it happened that wherever I traveled I was greeted with the sight of still waters in the form of lakes reflecting the surrounding landscape in their mirror-like surface.
The lakes that I encountered were sometimes deep, sometimes shallow, sometimes bluer than the skies above, and sometimes greener than the surrounding countryside. Always, held by the earth in her loving embrace. With nowhere to go and nothing to do, at peace with themselves and the world around it.
Their mirror-like surface holding everything in itself serenely – trees, rocks, sky, clouds, and even the moon. Sometimes, the breeze would come to play with the lake forming ripples and waves, causing the reflections to dance and play on the surface, creating new and fantastical images. Once the breeze departed, the waters would settle back into stillness reflecting everything as it was in that moment.
In the dharma talk related to the water/reflecting meditation, Thich Nhat Hahn reminds us of the importance of stillness in our heart-minds:
“Sometimes you enjoy being a wave—it’s very wonderful to be a wave, coming up very high, and going down very low. But sometimes you just want to be still water. To be still water is also a great joy—you feel peaceful, you feel quiet, and you enjoy the peace and the quietness that is in you…Still water reflects things perfectly. Still water does not distort things. When your mind is not still, you distort everything. We should not be victims of our wrong perceptions. In order for our perceptions not to be wrong, our minds should be still, like water. “
In life, we each have our moments of stillness, ripples, and even stormy waves. Maybe we can see the ripples in our lives as the ripples on the surface of a lake, highlighting its vitality, creativity, and potential. And, when life challenges us with stormy waves, we can tap into the qualities of still waters that reside deep within us.
- If you close your eyes and breathe in, can you feel the still waters deep inside you?
- How is the surface/life right now for you? Are there ripples, waves, or a storm raging on the surface?
- Regardless of the qualities of the surface, are you able to breathe in and abide in the stillness that is you? Even if it is for one breath.
- Is there an aspect of your life that could benefit from some stillness and clear seeing?
Here is a talk by Thich Nhat Hahn about the water/still meditation (starts at 22:50 min). A beautiful and calming lake meditation (19 min) can be found here.
The first part of the series can be found here.
To be continued…
