I was able to take a walk today after several weeks of rain, and it was wonderful. I took the opportunity to use a type of compassionate meditation that I was taught by my spiritual mentor. It’s called the Blessing Walk. Because it’s a walking meditation, it can be combined with a daily walk. You can get your exercise and improve your spiritual awareness at the same time.
The technique is very simply. While walking at an moderate pace, take note of all the natural features you pass – the rocks, the plants, the birds, the sky. Direct a feeling of great love and compassion on everything you see around you. Imagine a golden light in your feet as they touch the ground spreading outward as you walk. Imagine golden light streaming from your hands toward everything around you. Leave a blessing on everything you pass.
As you turn around to return home, imagine that the whole landscape is glowing with golden radiance from the blessing you have left. Feel love flowing back into you from everywhere.
A daily practice of this kind will not only develop your compassion – it will connect you at a spiritual level with the natural world. Esoteric teaching tells us that not only humans, but the entire physical world is full of spiritual beings and influences, which the ancient teachers called “elementals”. The earth and everything in it are alive with spiritual powers, which you can befriend by using this kind of meditation. It is said in legend that when Padmasambhava brought Buddhism to Tibet, he first spent time teaching and converting the fierce elemental spirits. They then became protectors of him and his teaching.
While you may not have results quite this dramatic, the Blessing Walk will help you to be more at peace with the world.
