Tranquility

I found myself in a deep funk the other day. I guess that what some people refer to as depression, but I like the word “funk” a lot better. It doesn’t have the stigma of a mental disorder.

Like most people, things get to me once in a while — especially things that feel like people you love let you down and maybe don’t really love you. That’s how I felt the other night. I took the dog for a walk and took my time, enjoying watching her run around, but the funk remained. I watched part of a video but couldn’t really get into it because of the funk. I even sang a little karaoke to the on-demand karaoke we get with our cable subscription. Even the dog seemed frustrated with me. I was frustrated with myself.

So I went upstairs to my meditation room and sat down for 20 minutes of meditation. With my attention focused on the sensation of air passing through my nostrils, the timer gong sounded. The air felt cool and fresh. It’s like being out in nature sometimes. We are part of nature and we are all connected. The air that I was breathing is no different than the air the millionaires breathe or the air that homeless people who live under bridges downtown breathe (although some might have more carbon monoxide in it as well as particulate matter and other pollutants). But it’s basically just recycled air. It’s a bond that we all have.

Feeling the joy of breathing is one of the great pleasures in life if you take the time to enjoy it. Kneeling with my meditation bench in meditation, I felt the funk begin to lift. My mind became as clear as the air I was breathing. It was like a fog lifting and suddenly everything became perfectly clear. I saw my problems for what they were suddenly they were no longer problems. They were simply mind objects that could be accepted and observed like the air passing through my nostrils.

Explore posts in the same categories: Buddhism, Life

Tags: Buddhism, depression, Life, meditation

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