My friends, Chi (top) and Milo (bottom) are working. Chi is working at hiding. Milo is working at playing. Both are working meditatively. Following is a meditation exercise all cats can do, anywhere:
Keep your eyes open, naturally. Not wide, not squinting. Breathe naturally. Take the tip of your tongue and place it just behind your front fang (this is to maintain awareness). Begin to notice your breath. It goes in and out, in and out. Naturally. Easily.
Now, as you're breathing, make a wish that by doing this meditation, every being great and small will be really, really happy and free from sickness and unhappiness. Yes, every being. Yes, that means mice, birds, flies -- and dogs, too. Just try it. But stay relaxed and natural.
Now, bring your awareness back to your breath. How does it feel? Does it tickle your whiskers on the way in? Is it warm or cold as it goes out? Keep breathing, in and out, in and out. Notice anything you can about your breath.
Do this, staying very relaxed. You eyes are open (in case you see a mouse or someone of the canine species, you don't want your eyes to be closed!). In and out, in and out.
Now, as you are aware of your breath going in and out, gradually expand your awareness. Do you hear anything? How does your tail feel? Are your claws extended or retracted? What are you smelling?
Just notice these things. If you feel like reacting to a smell or sound, that's okay. Every cat does that. But just let the reaction come and go, like a wave. And your breath is always going in and out, in and out. If you start thinking about how you don't have enough toys, or if you're starving and need to eat, just let those thoughts and feelings come and go like your breath.
When you end your meditation session, and you're feeling really nice and relaxed, yet aware of everything, then dedicate whatever merits you may have accumulated by your meditation session to all beings great and small. This way, we're not holding onto anything, and we're thinking good wishes for every being. (I know, it's hard to feel kindly toward certain species, but we need to try.)
You can practice this meditation behind plants, in a bag, while you're observing a specimen that might be good to eat. It's best to practice in short sessions: a few minutes while sitting on a desk or in an empty barn stall is purrfect.
You will be surprised by the results if you practice this meditation. Work will become less of an effort. Work will become non-work.
This is the essence of Law #1.
