In the week leading up to my marriage, I powered down my computer here in nyc (I was working an intense desk job at a financial institution and was not yet teaching yoga) and I hopped a bus to Providence where our wedding-palooza was to be held. There was much to be done to organize all the final details. People coming in from out of town. My family and Travs had yet to meet. Much. And there was a vast, heightened whirlwind in my mind and heart, as I prepared to participate in this sacred, declaration of love and vulnerability in front of friends, family and Spirit. Straight up: My belly had been sick for a week. I had locked myself out of the apartment twice in my frayed brain space, once with the stove on. Oy. Blessedly, Thich Nhat Hahn and the monks of Plum Village happened to be in Providence and my arrival timed out such that I got off the bus and went straight to a dharma talk led by him and then a walking meditation with this great teacher and his disciples. Blessed be! The downtown Providence area has a river running through it, and our meditational processional was alongside and around that river. Thays monks had placed signs here and there - on the ground - reading just breathe and feel your feet touch the earth and youre home now. It was just what this love-struck and overwhelmed bridey-poo needed! One step and one breath at a time, I came home to myself At one point, Thay and a collection of his monks were directly across the narrow river from where I and and others were. He paused, turned and looked across the river. Then smiled this smile of simple joy and he waved. At us. I will always hold that smile and that wave dear in my heart. Whenever I see a scene of a river baptism I think of that day. That experience cleansed me and prepared me in a good way for my wedding day. It washed away the crazy. If you are unfamiliar with Thich Nhat Hahn, he is a peace activist of such magnitude that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. nominated him for the nobel peace prize. He advocates compassion and mindfulness and his books are inspiring and numerous. And right now, he is quite ill. I notice great sorrow arising, thinking about the possibility of this great teacher leaving his body. And such copious gratitude. Feeling into impermanence. One breath, one step at a time.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 04:14:49 +0000
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