Walking Meditation

In this wildmind world, the crazy Zen dudes suggest that mindfulness can be practiced four ways: 1) when walking, 2) when standing 3) when sitting, and 4) when lying down. Walking meditation helps hone one's concentration skills, using the step-by-step experience as a way of quieting the mind. Lift the foot. Move it forward. Put it down. Press the ground.

Interesting practice, especially if there are Black Labs about.

It takes 166 steps to walk around the front yard, arms hanging naturally with hands lightly clasped in front.

Monkeymind Walt runs in circles, red Kong toy in mouth, seeking attention. I ignore him. He barks, then picks up his toy and tries to subvert human focus, again and again.

Margaret walks more Zen-like behind me, her nose near the backs of my knees. Occasionally I hear her flop on the ground so she can rub her back joyfully in the grass, purely happy in the leaves that have begun to drop. She wiggles her butt one way, then the other. I don't even have to look to know what she's doing.

For sweet old Marg, serenity is no replacement for a good old-fashioned back scratchin'.