Today, along with about 100 other men, women, children, babies in strollers and dogs on leashes, I walked for peace for the first time since the early 1970s. That was to protest the war in Vietnam. This was for peace in oneself and peace in the world.
Sponsored by Yoga-Los Angeles and Peace is Every Step, we gathered at the Yoga Center of Redondo Beach at 3 p.m. where it was explained by the leaders what meditation/peace walking as taught by Buddhist mindfulness teacher Thich Nhat Hanh is. I decided to use the mantra "Left foot, right foot," as I walked to keep myself focused. It was hard not to be distracted in such a busy place.
Thich Nhat Hahn has long been advocating peace walking. This is one of the things he says:
Walking mindfully on the Earth can restore our peace and harmony, and it can restore the Earth's peace and harmony as well. We are children of the Earth. We rely on her for our happiness, and she relies on us also. Whether the Earth is beautiful, fresh and green, or arid and parched depends on our way of walking. When we practice walking meditation beautifully, we massage the Earth with our feet and plant seeds of joy and happiness with each step. Our mother will heal us and we will heal her.
We walked slowly and silently for about two miles, through the tourist-busy Redondo Beach Village, down to the Esplanade, and then down to the sand where we followed the walking path. In a park overlooking the ocean, we sat mindfully for about 15 minutes and then returned slowly to the yoga center. It was interesting to observe people's reactions who were watching us, not really knowing what we were about; some attempted to make small talk as we silenty smiled. Others stared curiously, some smiling, frowning, some cars honking their support as many of us had signs that said PEACE pinned to the backs of our shirts. Some people fell into step with us.
The weather was beautiful and though I drive daily through the area we walked in, shop in the commercial area, and often spend time at the ocean, I was awed being part of a group and slowing enough to be really aware of my surroundings. I saw things I had never seen before, heard things I'd never heard, and even smelled things I had never even been aware of before. The senses were greatly enhanced. The walk took longer than I had anticipated and I didn't wear good walking shoes; quickly I was in great discomfort in my hips and lower back and somehow or other this persistent pain, which I felt and kept on walking through, became tolerable--and surprisingly meaningful.
On October 8 last year, Thich Nhat Hahn led a 3,000 person walk in downtown Los Angeles which began the series of continuing peace walks that are now happening throughout the city. On Monday, downtown Los Angeles will have the largest immigration gathering in the history of the city and I hope peace is in their every step as well.
The irony of it all? Because the walk took longer than I had thought, I didn't put enough money in the parking meter. I got a $30 parking ticket, but you know what? I'm not sweating the small stuff.
If you live in the Los Angeles area, this same walk will take place at the Santa Monica Pier at 2 p.m. on May 13.
Recent Comments