Emergency Mala

The reflections continue with the story of my first venturing out since returning to Wausau, WI. I decided today that my mala needed a transformation to coincide with the changes I had undergone while on retreat and thus, I set out to the craft store thinking that it would be a safe first trip out. I also felt the need to go out because I wanted to get the film out to be developed...me and my old fashioned camera:)

Well, I kept thinking I was forgetting something leaving the house - I had my wallet, my phone, my hat, me...but something was missing. I realized that it was my mala that I was missing after I was already in the car and on the way. Well, as I was starting to feel shaky, I remembered that I had a mala in my car, a small wrist mala that Pema had so thoughtfully given to me last year for Christmas, and so half jokingly I pulled out this "emergency mala" and began to do Guru mantra in the car, as I was out and about, even in the store. The feeling eased slightly as I remembered the dynamic of reliance and fell back into my familiar and comfortable pattern of methodically passing each soft bead between my fingers as the mantra flowed through my mind.

The trip out was short. Energetically I felt very overwhelmed and as such it is back to the meditation cushion for me. I will save more logistical things for later.

Hope all is well with the group. Thank you Jugney for posting about the Tibetan monastery, I could almost feel being there, with the wind blowing through the prayer flags and across the water.

Blessings,
Menma