Have Fun Socks, Will Meditate

To be a serious practitioner or a light-hearted one, that is not the question. But oh how easy it is to think we must choose. It’s work worth doing to keep alive a balance in our spiritual practice. A balance of being diligent and disciplined without becoming too rigid. A balance of being joyful and easeful without becoming too laze fair. A balance of being both a serious, dedicated practitioner and a light-hearted practitioner, with a good sense of humor and an ability to have fun. 

There’s a common belief that in order to be a serious spiritual practitioner, one must also be solemn, stoic, straight-faced, and stern. If one, say, laughed and smiled, it would negate the seriousness of their practice. This belief, though, is basic nonsense. Hogwash, if you will. 

I remember back when I was a new meditation and mindfulness student. When I would go on retreats, based in the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, one of my least favorite practices was when we would do inside walking meditation together. It felt so strict and rigid; drained of any sort of pleasure or enjoyment. It felt like a death march. As though the more somber we were while walking, the greater our sense of “achievement” was in our practice. This was, of course, a reality of my own making. A reality that was also basic nonsense. 

When I first heard a lay dharma teacher speak about the joy of walking meditation, it was a game-changer for me. It gave me permission to bring my own flare to walking meditation, vs. trying to imitate everyone else, to the detriment of my own practice. After that, I was able to walk with a smile on my face, lightness in my steps, and a pleasant melody in my heart. My attitude and outlook changed during walking meditation, and I discovered I really enjoyed it as a practice.