Cats, Cows, and Mindfulness

During the Coronavirus lockdown, it was easier than usual to find time to practice sitting. Having almost no set schedule, I was able to follow my intuition and stop “doing” at any given moment.

I take time every day to sit quietly. Preferably in silence. To reflect, visualize, contemplate, practice meditation. Or to daydream, listening to the music of the soundscape playing at that very moment…

I might choose to sit on the couch in the living room or a chair on the terrace. But usually, I sit on the floor, or in the grass, or amongst the fallen leaves in the woods. Crosslegged, or in any comfortable position. As long as it helps my mind to become calm and peaceful. I usually sit for half an hour or so, and often longer.

I’ve been procrastinating to write this article for days now. I’ve been finding all kinds of excuses to avoid sitting down at the computer and just get it done. 

Finally, I started writing just now, when all of a sudden I got distracted... Ha!

Another excuse?

It turned out to be an interesting experience, one which became the main inspiration for this blog post.

Here’s what happened.

Cats

A young black cat passed by the open window. I could see she was curious about what was going on inside. I called her gently. She seemed suspicious. I moved slowly towards her, mumbling soft words. Inviting her with open hands, I sat down on the porch. She hesitated to come closer, still not trusting this human form.

I decided to let go of wanting her to come closer.

She lay down and started licking herself, cleaning her shiny black fur. I focussed on my breathing and relaxed my body. I observed my new friend with an indirect soft gaze. She had a nice long stretch, relaxed completely, and lay down facing me. 

I continued to keep my mind calmly turned inward, feeling my body, noticing my breath, maintaining a state of inner peace. The gentle wind caressed my skin.

Then, a bigger tiger-patterned cat entered the garden with a slow predator-like pace. My young blissful friend didn’t notice the imminent threat and continued her little afternoon siesta. 

All of a sudden she sensed the danger, turned her head around, eye to eye with her opponent. She swiftly got up on all fours, doubled in size, and started growling, her tail all big and fluffy.

I continued to observe the scene. My mind calm, my body tensionless. I uttered some soft words and sounds, hoping to transmit a message of love. 

“This garden is a safe haven of peace, we are all welcome to hang out here harmoniously.”

It took a few more minutes before both felines lay down where they were standing, making sure to keep a safe social distance of 1.5 meters. For another half hour or so, we continued being in the moment. Alert, yet relaxed. Ants, bees, spiders, beetles, and birds joined us. An interspecies gathering on a sunny afternoon.

Nothing to do, nothing to want, being here and now.

Cows

You are probably wondering, why the title of this post mentions cows. Well, we all know that Cat & Cow is a wonderful exercise to keep your spine healthy. But honestly, I just liked the sound of it!

Obviously I wasn’t able to document the cat scene with an unforgettable picture. It would have ruined the uniqueness of the moment. 

Last week, on one of my walks, I had a similar encounter with a herd of cows. So instead of cats, here’s the cow photograph!

Some simple tips for easy mindful sitting

To round off this blog post, I’d like to suggest some concrete guidelines for meditative sitting, based on the story above.

• Begin with sitting for 5 minutes, or less. You will want to sit longer when you’re ready for it. It will feel easy and wonderful. Practice every day, several times a day.

• Surprise yourself (or set a reminder) and stop doing what you’re doing at any time of the day. Stop all activity for a minute or longer. Observe your breathing. 

• Do not force yourself to relax. Let it happen. It’s your natural state. Let go of wanting to do it perfectly. Focus on letting go. Explore, observe. Don’t worry about the outcome. Just be.

• Tune into your environment, get in harmony with it. If you’re wondering how, relax, and you’ll figure it out.