Practice: Week 4: Mammoth Lakes to Carson City, 128 miles

I’m writing this as Sabina is asleep in her carrier on my chest. What an incredible honor it is to hold, love, care for, and keep safe this little being as she, little by little, learns to function independently in this world. She has been much less fussy this week which is a very nice change for us! 

It was Soten’s turn to be sick which gave us more rest days this week. We had almost two full days in ‘sagebrush heaven’, a little travelled forest road in the foothills of Mt. Patterson amidst a giant community of sagebrush, aspen trees, and a gushing fresh water spring. A herd of 1000 sheep with a shepard and five herding dogs passed by us on our first and last days there. Amazing site! Then we descended 2000 ft down the scariest dirt/rock road I have even driven 😳 and into Nevada. 

We’re getting more comfortable at finding places to park overnight. All of our slow long distance travel has been without a vehicle so it has been a learning experience knowing where it is safe and permissible to park this giant van each night. At first we were always trying to plan ahead but more and more we just see where we are at the end of the day and look for a place. Usually it’s not hard to find one. 

I have started to miss having ample time to do zazen (silent, still, present sitting) and am learning how to incorporate it, along with focused meditation practices, into my day to day while functioning as a mother. I once read that Dipa Ma, the renowned meditation master, would give breastfeeding mothers the practice of concentrating on the sensations of the baby feeding as a meditation object. I have taken up that practice as well as continued with the traditional objects of meditation like the breath and the sensations of the feet on the ground while walking. Then, whenever there is a moment when everything becomes still and quiet, I return to zazen and sit, stand, or lie down as the entire universe united, feeling the expanse, joy, and peace of having no agenda whatsoever beyond what is. Yesterday I was able to sit a full half hour! 

My vow is to continue to ever deepen in this expansive, all-inclusive presence and to help others to discover its constant and unsurpassable refuge. There is no pleasure in the world that is greater than aligning with what is. Here, there is perfect harmony, ease, and the simple joy of being. 

May all beings learn to rest easy exactly as they are.

🙏Shinei