Now there's a way in this world that leans not forward nor leans back,
A way that is upright,
In alignment with the present moment,
Not racing ahead,
Not falling behind,
Just taking one step at a time.
And when we walk in this way we become a stabilizing presence to all of the shifting fields,
The beings,
The consciousnesses that we encounter along the way,
Just taking one step at a time.
This is a way of slowing down,
Not rushing,
Not hurrying,
Bringing into our daily life the old wisdom that the slow way is the fast way.
Snail medicine,
The gentle breeze that blows in one direction continuously,
Creates the most lasting change.
So if we want to grow something in our life we should bring that thing into our moment gently.
With consistency return.
If we want to learn a new instrument,
Just have that instrument out where you can see it.
And when you walk by it in your home,
Oh maybe I'll just pick that up for a few minutes now,
You can pick up the instrument and just play with it.
See what kind of sounds it can make.
See if you can make discordant sounds on it.
See if you can make beautiful sounds on it.
Just for as long as you feel like holding this instrument and then put it down and continue about your day.
Next time you find yourself walking past this instrument maybe you'll want to pick it up again and play with it.
Have some fun.
Tap on it.
There's another sound it can make.
So working with this instrument day by day with a gentle relaxed heart,
An inquisitive spirit,
You'll become attuned and the instrument will start to teach you how to become one with it.
So that it becomes an extension of your breath,
Of your body,
Of your spirit.
And that's where the real magic begins.
This just doesn't just go for instruments.
This is for anything we want to develop,
Any art,
Any project.
If we can be that wind gently blowing in one direction,
Let the appearance of time be our ally as we spiral through the infinity.
We can use time as an ally to help absorb and to merge with the different pieces and parts and plays and projects of our lives.
We don't have to take it all so seriously.
We can have a light heart and let our projects and our arts play through us,
To sing through us,
To dance through us.
We don't need to lean forward.
We don't need to lean back.
Just being where we are one step at a time and the pedals unfold in this moment,
In this moment,
In this moment.
With each step we take we leave a flower under our feet because we're moving in harmony with the Tao.
We're walking at the pace of nature like the tiger walking through the jungle one step at a time,
Aware,
Alert to all of the life happening within us and around us.
Heart open to our relationships,
To our families,
To our communities,
And remembering to turn within to develop wisdom and knowledge of self.
Looking within the sacred cave and expanding out into the universe.
That's who we are.
We are part of the universe.
The universe is in our body.
So with the snail medicine,
Not hurrying,
Not rushing,
And just moving at the natural pace of nature,
We accomplish the great task.
First with it intention,
Then with breath,
Followed by action.
So set the intention,
Take the breath,
Follow through with the action,
Return to stillness.
This is nature's way of accomplishment,
Not holding on to any peace.
And in this way there's nothing that cannot be done because we're not leaning forward,
We're not falling back.
We're aligned between heaven and earth,
Stable like a pine tree,
And working with this idea of the snail medicine.
Moving with the rhythm of your heart.
And when we don't rush,
We have more time to observe the world around us.
Observe all of the colors,
All of the sounds of the day.
To take in all of those tiny details.
Look closely at that leaf falling from the tree.
Is it a leaf?
Is it a butterfly?
Look at the colors of the moss,
The grass,
And the dandelions.
You'll notice the closer you look,
The more it opens,
Like an infinite flower unfolding its petals.
Closer you look at that blade of grass,
The more it starts to emit and reveal its true self.
So be aware,
Slow down and breathe.
Take a break from the daily news,
From the social media,
And come back to your own three treasures.
Your Jing,
Qi,
Shen.
Your body,
Your breath,
And your spirit.
Take some time each day to nourish this essence within you.
And don't worry,
Everything's not gonna fall apart when you take this time for yourself.
When you turn within and nourish your inner universe,
There's a nourishment that flows into every atom of this great Dao,
This great universe.
So enjoy moving like a snail.
Be at peace in your heart.
Slow down.
At the pace of the rhythm of the day.
Slow down.
Can you get a little bit slower?
Slow down.
Walk at the pace of the rhythm of the night.
Slow down.
Can you get a little bit lower?
Slow down.
Walk like a snail with a slimy snail trail.
Slow down.
Slow down.
Can you go a little bit slower?
Slow down.
Can you go a little bit lower?
Slow down.
Can you go a little bit slower?
Slow down.
Can you get a little bit lower?
Slow down.
Slow down.
Slow down.
Slow down.
Slow down.
Slow down.
Slow down.
