on This Earth

This post builds on part 1, linked here, developing your connection with nature. If you have not read the post, please start with part 1.

These two posts build on the foundational skills from the first few posts. If you are new to the blog, I would encourage you to develop the foundational skills. They will help you sharpen your senses and observation skills, necessary for this phase. You can start with this post on connecting with the rain, linked here.

The foundational skills are based on 4 key principles:

• silence/stillness
• observation
• reflection
• acting on the reflection

The art of mindful walking focuses on the first two key principles. In the foundation phase, I encouraged those who want to start to find a spot to sit or stand. To be still and silent. In practising mindful walking, you won’t be still but silence is highly encouraged.

Recapping the technique

In part 1, linked here, we focused on building the connection to the ground. The idea is to find stability and make our steps firm. All the while being intimately aware of the nuances of ground beneath. In a way, I see the connection to the ground as a metaphor. It signifies how we need to find stability. We search for this steadiness in a constantly shifting world.

In the Qur’an, Surah Al-Imran 3:146-147, the idea of ensuring our steps are firm is connected to adversity. It is at these times of adversity , that we need stability and steadfastness, being grounded in faith. Just as physically we find stability by being grounded to the earth.

وَكَأَيِّن مِّن نَّبِىٍّ۬ قَـٰتَلَ مَعَهُ ۥ رِبِّيُّونَ كَثِيرٌ۬ فَمَا وَهَنُواْ لِمَآ أَصَابَہُمۡ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا ضَعُفُواْ وَمَا ٱسۡتَكَانُواْ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ (١٤٦) 

وَمَا كَانَ قَوۡلَهُمۡ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُواْ رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسۡرَافَنَا فِىٓ أَمۡرِنَا وَثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ (١٤٧)

And how many a prophet has had to fight [in God’s cause], followed by many God-devoted men. And they did not become faint of heart for all that they had to suffer in God’s cause. And neither did they weaken, nor did they abase themselves [before the enemy], since God loves those who are patient in adversity. (146) And all that they said was this: “O our Sustainer! Forgive us our sins and the lack of moderation in our doings! And make firm our steps, and succour us against people who deny the truth!” (147)

I hope you have practised being connected to the ground through your feet, utilising the various sensory inputs. The different sensations from your toes, heel, mid-foot, ball of the foot and more as your feet move.

Enhancing the sight

In part 1, I also touched on how I limited my sight on the ground in front of me. In my experience, when you limit your sight it actually tends to sharpen and is enhanced. That is because you are not distracted and can focus better. As mentioned in part 1, by watching the ground, I can easily spot minute details. A few weeks ago, I was walking with a friend in Dalkeith Country Park. I spotted a lot of spider webs in the grass, beautifully woven. It would have been a shame to step on them unknowingly.

Another benefit of limiting the gaze to the ground is enhancing your peripheral vision. I rely on my peripheral vision to alert me for any incoming obstacles. I am more alert to any slight movements out of the corner of my eyes. Like the flight of the bees and insects. Or moving shadows. By sitting still, you can practise enhancing the peripheral vision. But I find it much easier to practise when I am moving.

Once again, I am struck by how this practice resonates with the Qur’an. In Surah An-Nur 24:30, God instructed the believers to lower their gaze. This command is primarily to ensure they do not look at prohibited things or those that lead to temptation. Instead, they are asked to be mindful of their own actions, guarding their chastity.

قُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يَغُضُّواْ مِنۡ أَبۡصَـٰرِهِمۡ وَيَحۡفَظُواْ فُرُوجَهُمۡ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ أَزۡكَىٰ لَهُمۡ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا يَصۡنَعُونَ (٣٠)

Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity: this will be most con­ducive to their purity – [and,] verily, God is aware of all that they do. (30)

Second practice – Limiting the gaze

In part 1, the first practice, we focused on the feet and its relation to the ground. In this practice, I encourage you to keep doing the same. Only now, you add this dimension of keeping your gaze fixed to the ground in front of you. In your journal, record how you feel about it.

As you look down and move your feet deliberately forward, be aware of the details on the ground. Do you notice the quartz in the pavement if you are practising there? Perhaps a pebble or stone? If you are walking on grass, what do you see in the grass? Do you see different colours as the light shine on them? Record down your observations in your journal.

Happy practising and we will expand the technique further in the third part.