Past Book Review (December 30, 2020): "Still Running"
New book review for Still Running: The Art of Meditation in Motion, by Vanessa Zuisei Goddard, Shambhala, 2020:
Copy provided by Amazon.
In her introduction to this book, Goddard discusses the concept of "zazen", seated meditation, as the main path to liberation in Buddhism, and then quickly follows up by explaining that zazen isn't about being quiet, or just about focusing or even gaining insight on the meditation cushion, as it should function in our everyday lives. She is also quick to explain that what she presents here is not limited to running, as walking, swimming, and bicycling are also excellent forms of moving zazen because of their repetitive, meditative nature. She comments that running has been her main form of exercise for thirty-five years, and as a longtime runner myself who began by running competitively in school for ten years and often meditates while running as an adult, I think I might be able to provide some perspective.
She subsequently explains the transition between stillness and movement, being and doing. "First we need to learn to move into stillness to make contact with our basic clarity and wisdom. Then, from that stillness, we must move out into activity, letting that clarity inform the way we live day to day. This is the functioning of compassion. And while I wouldn't claim that jogging a few miles a day will lead to enlightenment or compassion, I do see running meditation as an excellent entry point into the deep exploration of the nature of body and mind within daily life. Running zazen – which I call still running – can show us that fundamentally there is no difference between stillness and movement, body and mind, self and other. And this, the Buddha said, is the realization that leads to the end of suffering."