Right Concentration: Contentment

Recently I was touched by a young man, 15 years old, who lives in Syria and is recording his region of Eastern Ghouta under siege, posting every few days to Facebook and Twitter. Muhammad Najem is a person I'm now able to check on regularly, and my heart lifts when I see he's still alive and active in his very real desire to be a photo journalist. There's many things about this young man that have impact: his open gaze, staccato voice, languid walk as he maneuvers over piles of rubble, his straight forward persistence. Him and his people are now more than ever in the heart of my daily practice.

Yesterday I had a break in a busy day and turned into Camp Galilee by the shores of Tahoe home. Waters were calm and placid, and as I slowly walked the shoreline, I thought of my young friend, Muhammad Najem. Eyes were downcast to the black Tahoe sand and the flat, colorful rocks adorning the shore....

I studied the stones as I walked, enamored by the colors, shapes and textures of the precious offerings, many etched in constellations reminding me of stars in night sky. I held the two realities of Syria and the peaceful shore of Lake Tahoe as I walked.

Having arrived at the end of the sun-melted beach, I turned around, realizing in my concentration, I hadn't looked out at the calm waters ringed in snow-capped peaks. I had neglected the Pureland in the distance!

My walk on the beach seemed a perfect metaphor for life. How often do I get caught in this event, or that person, this place and that news and forget to open to the larger whole? I was reminded of Right Concentration and our March IC theme of, "Contentment." Where is my energy, my point of focus? Is it possible in the intrigue of rocks and pebbles to look up and remember serenity? To come back to my foundation: body, breath, steps, equals peace, calm and ease in any situation.

As I turned to go, I dedicated insights on an undisturbed Tahoe homeland to my friend and comrade, Muhammad Najem and the people of Syria.


(For further reflections on related content: Right View, Right Speech, Right Livelihood, Right Mindfulness)