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Meditation in the Time of Covid-19
Treading water or floating?
In the year of the Coronavirus, at the end of the first month of quarantine, I’m still sitting in the morning, meditating. Lately, however, there has been an unusual amount of mental gymnastics to wade through.
Earlier today, I heard myself think as I sat in front of my albeit-fake-fireplace, what am I trying to accomplish? What exactly am I doing here?
And then I remembered.
I’m clearing a space. Choosing to quiet the noise. Practicing stillness.
The image that emerged for me was that of a child, being told to float on his back as he learns how to rest on the water. I have witnessed this practice many times as an observer of my grandson’s swim lessons, safety exercises that train young swimmers how to find rest in the water if they ever happen to find themselves in the horrible position of not being rescued immediately.
It’s so uncomfortable, when you’re not accustomed to swimming, to find yourself being forced to put your head backwards into the water in order to float.
The process: arch your back, open up your neck in the most vulnerable position possible, and fill your lungs.
