When people ask me if I meditate I usually either say 鈥淣o鈥� or 鈥淥f course鈥�. Both are true. It鈥檚 a bit confusing because I don鈥檛 sit, but I do meditate.听
My personal definition of meditation is simply communing with your own spirit. It involves closing your eyes to the outside world and opening them to the inner world.听
In the words of one of the central figures of the Bah谩鈥櫭� Faith, Abdu鈥檒-Bah谩, 鈥淚n that state of mind you put certain questions to your spirit and the spirit answers: the light breaks forth and the reality is revealed.鈥� We are 鈥渋mmersed in the ocean of spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of things-in-themselves鈥�.
Of course, you don鈥檛 need to follow any one method in order to meditate. You do need to calmly focus, whether it鈥檚 on your own breath or on a question, a word or phrase. And, it seems to me that if your method involves focused reflection, you need to listen and be in a receptive state.听
Given the enormity of creation with its unimaginable expansiveness and drama, it鈥檚 one of life鈥檚 stranger paradoxes that the way to connect with 鈥渁ll that is鈥� is to look quietly inward. It鈥檚 also a strange thing, as well as the most normal thing, to commune with your own spirit. When we鈥檙e quiet enough to find it, it鈥檚 like finding our own voice; we recognize it. And perhaps you recognize this: it鈥檚 like finding a tiny porthole to the universe, to the source of creativity and wisdom.听
Many excellent meditation methods are taught and used in the programs at the UVic Interfaith Chapel, so a while back we added weekly 鈥淪pirit Walks鈥�, based on this simple method. It seemed a natural addition, and since the location is the SW corner of campus at the entrance to Finnerty Gardens, it couldn鈥檛 be more beautiful.
We meet at 9:30 a.m. Thursdays in the lobby of the Interfaith Chapel and begin with a 鈥渧irtues pick鈥� using a special deck of cards or an app called Virtues Reflection, with articulately and thoughtfully written reflections. The cards often seem to choose us more than the other way around, and provide much fodder for reflection.听
As an example, someone might choose the card 鈥淐ourage鈥�.听
Courage transforms fear into determination. It is embracing life fully, without holding back, doing what must be done even when it is difficult or risky. When we are tempted to give up, courage supports us to take the next step. It allows us to face adversity with confidence. Courage opens us to new possibilities, and gives us the strength to sacrifice for what we love.
There are a couple more sentences but that gives you an idea. When you flip the card, or double click on the image, a quote from Rumi comes up:
鈥淗eart, be brave. If you cannot be brave, just go. Love鈥檚 glory is not a small thing.鈥�鈥� Jalal-u-Din Rumi
The walk begins at Finnerty Gardens with a 10-minute silent walking meditation and usually traverses nearby Mystic Vale, in a return loop.听
One question I often silently use during the meditation is, 鈥淲hat is nature telling me about this?鈥� and the trees and plants faithfully oblige with beautiful stories. The remainder of the walk, about 40 minutes, is spent sharing thoughts and insights. It鈥檚 led to some great and often enlightening conversations. There鈥檚 almost always a surprise and very often incredible richness and depth, either in the cards, the insights, the people, or all of the above.
Normally the group would be publicized on campus only. But summers are quiet, so community members can feel especially free to join us for a Spirit Walk, any Thursday morning, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Consider this an invitation. Come while it鈥檚 still summer!
Sheila Flood听is a member of the Bah谩鈥櫭� community of Saanich and Chair of the Victoria Multifaith Society.听
You can read more articles from our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking,
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