One of the most important things we can do, for energy, health and spiritual happiness, is to get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature and the energy of the universe. I try to get out every day and walk/hike 4-12 miles depending upon my schedule. Often, I combine my walk/hike with my daily meditation and always return home feeling happy and content.
Yesterday, I headed up into the hills near my home in the Bay Area of Northern California. This is one of my favorite hikes and one I try to do at least once each week. It is about 8.5 miles roundtrip from my house, and the middle 3.5 miles are up and over some serious hills with the views you see in this photo. Just enjoying the beauty of nature, and feeling the energy from the universe, are such a blessing.
I learned the walking meditation technique from a Zen Buddhist monk during a daylong retreat on the Winter Solstice. Shokuchi taught us to notice each step and our breathing and the sounds of nature. Just providing the focus of the mind to these three things blocks out all other thoughts and provides a deep sense of calm. I do this for about 20 minutes in the middle of a walk. I tend to feel and hear each foot fall. I hear my breath, which can become quite intense if I'm climbing one of the hills. And, in this particular wilderness area I notice bird calls and the gentle rustling of the wind. All other thoughts and emotions, past, present and future, tend to melt away and I can just stay in the serenity of the present moment in nature.
As you adopt this Way of Living I really encourage you to get out into nature at least twice each week. Include walking meditation into one or all of these hikes to feel energized, healthy and happy!
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