The Power Of Dialogue, Meditation And Secret Smiles
--by worldcitizen, posted Mar 24, 2011
Violence is a monologue. A park named after a great human being who embodied nonviolence has been used as a "war zone" between two gangs. A couple of months ago a couple of teen-agers were killed in the middle of the day. The police is offering more of the same monologue. The state and its (structural) violence, offer to build more prisons instead of restorative systems like schools, farms and clinics.
We, the neighbors, refuse to engage in this monologue. We are organizing from the bottom-up to bring harmony to our community. We want to create a dialogue.
That's what happened this morning of Spring equinox.
Five of us choose to practice yoga and meditation in the (in)famous park. When the three of us arrived, there was a migrant on the cellphone. We greeted him with a "Buenos Días! :)" anyway, to which he replied back with a big smile. In between sun-salutations, downward-dog, cobra, pigeon, tree, (love)warrior and other yoga postures we surprised every single person walking through the park. They were not expecting our "good mornings" and "buenos días". The grand majority replied back with smiles.
We finished up the yoga practice by sitting in silence to meditate. After sending our loving kindness to all beings during the sunny morning, I noticed a man in a bench across the neglected basketball court. Walking very slowly through the cracks were the grass is starting to break free, I made eye contact with the man. It is the same migrant worker.
His body language and face looked sad but when he again heard friendly words in Spanish addressing him, a glow started coming from his eyes. We engaged in an intimate conversation, all in Spanish. From "what's your name", to "how long have you been in this country", "to where's your family", to "I'm trying to recover from alcoholism", to plain raw gratitude, we prepared the soil to plant a profound dialogue. Then, he gave me a lesson on oneness and love. An incredible moment of brotherhood. He said something like:
"I was very intrigued when I saw that woman and the other guy doing their exercises."
"I didn't understand what they were doing, but I started to feel at peace."
"Then you [three] came and were so friendly. I went to the place I'm staying to charge my cellphone, and rode on this bike to discretely see what you were up to. I didn't want to be upfront because some times people get upset when you look at them in the eye."
"I just moved to this town 6 months ago, I have almost no friends, I know a lot about growing and harvesting grapes but have no work. I'd love to work in anything, I know how to do many things but right now it is hard to get a job; even harder with my rusty English. My marriage and family fell apart and I've been very depressed. Some days are OK but some others are terrible. Today, was one of those terrible days until your friends appeared."
I only listen attentively and start feeling the warmth of our connection. With tearing eyes he continues:
"I'm very respectful of other people's beliefs, I don't understand what you were doing but I like it. I really enjoyed the peace and beauty that I was feeling from only watching you; and then when you sat, closing your eyes and getting very concentrated, you three looked so physically different, but I felt a profound bliss. I know that the color of our skin doesn't matter, God knows we all are brothers. Under God's eyes we all are family."
At that point my other two house-mates joined us and we invited him to practice with us next time. He gave us his cellphone number, we gave him big hugs and he responded with a fraternal kiss on the cheek.
Now it was me who was surprised and so grateful for this lost brother whose love for humanity helped me to practice secret smiles. :)
999 Reads
- Posted by worldcitizen
- Mar 24, 2011
- 13 Smiles, 5 Comments
