August 11, 2024
“ My father would always say, people who practice martial arts go through three stages: seeing yourself, seeing the world, seeing all living beings.”
– The Grandmaster, film by Wong Kar Wai
How are you all? Last Sunday I led a sunset meditative walk to the Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Just two hours before our meeting at 6:30pm, a fierce thunderstorm had engulfed New York. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should cancel and reschedule. Yet, another voice within reminded me, “We practice in all weathers. Life isn’t just made of sunny days.” With the weather forecast predicting that the rain would likely clear up, I decided to proceed as planned.
As it turned out, the rain had mostly stopped by the time we gathered, leaving the air refreshingly crisp. As we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, we were greeted by a magnificent rainbow stretching between the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge. It even evolved into a double rainbow, shimmering in the dusk light—a rare and magical sight in New York.
Throughout the walk, we witnessed dramatic cloud formations drifting across half the sky, while the other half emerged clear and expansive. By the end of our journey, we arrived at the quiet and open waterfront of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The sun set against a clear sky and the backdrop of a skyline and the Statue of Liberty in the background. As nightfall approached, the energy shifted, becoming softer and more introspective.
During the meditation, I guided participants to tune into their senses and bodies. As they built concentration and stability of awareness, they sent metta (loving-kindness) to those we passed by. Gazing at the myriad windows of the cityscape and watching cars glide along the highway, we were reminded that we had all weathered the same storm under the same sky. My heart felt wide open, embracing the beauty and poignancy of life’s unpredictability.
This experience was a powerful reminder that life’s next moment is unknown, and by practicing with an open heart and receptivity in all weather, we cultivate faith, resilience, and curiosity as we meet each moment. Sometimes, the most spectacular rainbows appear after the most intense storms. In a short walk, our practice led us to “seeing oneself, seeing the world, seeing all living beings.”
Yesterday marked the first day of Fall according to the Chinese lunar calendar, and New York experienced a sudden 10-degree drop in temperature. I’m always amazed at how precisely the lunar calendar aligns with these shifts. I hope you’re embracing the transition into the new season with ease and grace.
Additionally, registration for the BIPOC hike with Sebene and me is now open. Space is limited, so we’d love to have you join us!
Blessings,
Lin
Photo: Rainbow after a thunderstorm, Brooklyn Bridge, August 4, 2024