Presence as Protest

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo."So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” - Tolkien

What can we say other than that we are alive, that we are experiencing a human life for the blink of a cosmic eye, and that our current human predicament is difficult—physically, mentally, and spiritually.

In response to the events of the past two months, I have heard the mind repeatedly asking, "What can I do, what can I do to help, to stop, to protest," and the heart's response came not only in the form of objective measures but also from a deeper place—a protest from the soul which commands us only to be fully present with all aspects of the life that is before us.

Mindfulness does not deny a single corner; it embraces the whole and interconnected state of affairs. We must first be brave enough to look at our current situation head-on, letting our hearts break and our minds grow agitated; letting tears fall and our bodies be heavy in response to the deliberate hatred, division, violence, and separation that we are experiencing.

Faced with such bleakness, we must insist on experiencing the beauty that remains inherent in human life, for there can be no stronger protest against those who wish us suffering than one who continues enjoying the gift of being alive.

This enjoyment referenced is not contingent on any special or self-serving situations, events, or circumstances—it is purely the joy of being alive. We can look out a window and see a steadfast pine weathering spring's warm, fast winds. We can see a raging sun filling the earth's palette with colors rich and varied. We can hear the melodies of songbirds atop the droning lull of tires from machines we created out of ore and will. We can feel the wind's cool, uneven breath. And it can bring us joy.

In the dreariest conditions, we can close our eyes and experience the sensations of breath: the body pulling air into itself, circulating and spiraling it through the lungs, and exhaling it with warm vapor back out into the atmosphere as billions of other organisms across this epic globe share the same life-ritual. And that can bring us joy. Joy despite/on top of the current life situation we find ourselves in.

Presence, living in the present, means we enjoy the good times fully and grieve the bad times fully. We take direct and strong action when it's necessary and resign ourselves to resting deeply when it's time. It is this balance that is crucial for endurance and fostered through mindfulness. To simply experience whatever the present moment brings with an open mind and heart, to love deeply, suffer fully, and endure the whole spectrum of the human experience, is a protest against those who wish to enslave others in a one-dimensional human experience of fear.

Whatever actions we undertake, be it calling our senators or washing our hands, let a deep present moment awareness remain as our underlying protest. When we give ourselves fully to whatever lies directly at hand, we allow the harmony of life to be experienced through us. We allow balance, love, and understanding to remain in our hearts and minds. It is that rich symphony which blasts aloud as its own protest song.

See these articles below for specific meditation exercises that facilitate present moment awareness: