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From Drop to River: The Art of Doing Nothing with the Sangha
We adjust to a smaller Sangha, grateful for both presence and absence. Evening sitting at 5 o’clock replaces 8 pm for a few weeks, followed by dinner, study/practice and optional tea meditation or Dharma discussion. Mindful work in the garden or kitchen transforms labor into practice, offering quality rather than a chore.
Sitting meditation is learning the art of doing nothing: asking “What am I doing here?” awakens mindfulness. It’s training in non-action as nourishment, inviting us to enjoy each session rather than endure it. Each practitioner is a drop of water that, by opening to the Sangha, becomes the river—embracing all as mother Mahāmāyā, the mother of past, present and future Buddhas.
Walking meditation and chanting are celebrations of life: hold your hands in the traditional Buddha-circumambulation, visualize holding a lotus and “celebrate that you are alive.” Chant with ear and heart, allowing the Sangha to transport you. True energy and healing arise when we let go of habitual ideas—about sleep, productivity or isolation—and embrace sitting, walking, eating and serving as bodhisattvas.
