Practicing Calm Presence

Today I have planned an unusual walk in the park. The day turned out great! Despite the fact that it is already late autumn — mid-November — the weather is wonderful!

Windless. The rays of the sun penetrate the transparent cool air. The sky is clear, as if it has been washed and removed all the clouds that have hung over the city for the past few weeks.

Everything helped me to achieve my goal: practice calm presence while walking in the park.

The task was this — to hold out for one hour in the outside world, without slipping into inner thoughts, experiences. To be in the outer funnel of perception.

I choose for myself the image of a video camera with supersensory abilities. The camera can switch modes: “see”, “hear” and “feel”. You can also combine all three modes.

I start the walk by turning on the “see” mode. I walk along the alley, I just shoot everything that happens around. Here are the trees along the road with bare branches. Between the trees I see a black crow — it tears the fallen leaves with its beak. I approached the central square of the park — there is a round platform strewn with multi-colored chips. Then I go down the gravel path and head to the pond.

I turn on the «hear» mode. A cacophony of sounds immediately breaks out. The rumble of cars driving along the avenue, the rustle of leaves, the rustle of gravel underfoot, the cawing of crows, the chirping of sparrows.

I go to the pond. I hear a splash of water — these are ducks, taking off, slapping their wings on a mirror surface. There are several willows near the pond. At the slightest breath of the breeze, one can hear how their flexible branches, on which there are still leaves, sway, making a quiet sound.

I walk along the pond along the stony path, noting how the pebbles rustle under the soles. This path leads through the entire park to the playground.

There are many babies with their mothers here. Their sonorous voices can be heard from afar. I pass by and turn on the “feel” mode.

The first thing I feel is the touch of air on my skin. I breathe. The air is fresh and pleasantly cool. I can smell the rotten leaves. I feel uneven road surface.

Then I try to combine the «see» and «hear» mode.

I see a picture — trees, birds, sunbeams. I hear the hum of cars, the chirping of birds.

And at the end of the walk I combine all three modes: “see”, “hear”, “feel”.

All attention is directed outward. The outer funnel works to its fullest.

The walk turned out to be interesting and useful. By the time I lasted no more than 40 minutes. Several times she slipped into the inner funnel, turning to her thoughts.

But she quickly remembered her task and switched to the external mode of perception. The feeling of a calm presence was well fixed inside me. I think that now I can use this resource state in my daily life.