Underneath

Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Are whales bothered by a storm raging on the surface?

Although they have to surface to breathe, they are able to swim down, below the maelstrom, and exist in the relative peace of the deep.

We have this ability too, although it may seem unattainable at times.

We have the ability to sink down, below the drama, below the turmoil, below the pain, and arrive at a peaceful place; but like any ability, it has to be developed.

Like whales, we have to surface periodically. We have to enter the fray of our lives, do battle for the good of the kingdom, and take care of business. But the good news is that we don’t have to live there.

“But wait!” you say. “I do have to live there. I’m always dealing with all the demands of a busy life!”

Yes, many of us spend the majority of our waking hours dealing with a never-ending tide of details and responsibilities. But it is possible to do it from a foundation of serenity.

Once we have this foundation, it is possible to live underneath the storm while still experiencing it, like a whale with only its blowhole at the surface. (Yes, I’m going to milk this metaphor for all its worth.)

But first we have to build a foundation of peace and calm. There are many approaches people take to develop their underwater home. Some use meditation. Many forms of meditation are exercises in going below the waves to the underwater of our consciousness: going there intentionally and feeling the waves (thoughts, worries, and distractions) as they pass, recognizing them for what they are, and not letting them disturb our frame of mind. With practice, this can lead to a more permanent place of calm and peace—even while dealing with life’s turmoil.

Sometimes when I’m at the beach, I like to make this metaphor literal. I’ll float beneath the waves as long as I can and feel them going by. To me, there’s nothing more peaceful than hovering underwater, weightless and undisturbed. It helps me remember that I can stay below the waves of life and let them pass. I’m aware of them and I can feel them, but they do not pick me up and carry me along.

Occasionally, we all have a wave that does grab us and gives us a good tumble. All we can do is get up, check for broken bones, and plunge back into the calm beyond the breakers. The calm is always there waiting for us.

Eventually, we will think of our peaceful place as home. We will be able to deal with the turmoil of life from a vantage point below the turmoil. We will have a solid foundation of serenity and happiness that nothing can disturb.

We can become the whale.