Awakening (December 1993)

Linda Braga, San Leandro, CA

On a visit to my parents in Iowa following the T’ai Chi Chih Conference in Chicago, I decided to start my day with an early-morning sitting meditation on the front porch. The morning was already hot and humid at 7 am. Aside from the occasional squawks and chirps from crows, robins and cardinals in the trees, all was moist and quiet. (The drone of lawn mowers had not yet begun.)

I sat on the edge of the chair, placed my bare feet on the cool wooden floor of the porch, and closed my eyes. Ah, it felt so good.

I started counting my outbreaths and got into a soft breathing pattern. Ah, it felt wonderful. In/out. In/out. In/out…..

Several minutes passed……Suddenly I was vaguely aware of an odd sensation. But where? Oh! It was my right foot. But what? My serene mind struggled to label it, to identify it. Then yipes! A nip on my toes (or was it a kiss?) In a flash I was wide awake, flicking my foot. An ant? A bee or wasp? No! A totally frightened little chipmunk who flipped off my foot, ran helter skelter across the porch, down the steps and sidewalk with tail straight up. It was he who had “an awakening” that hot summer morning in Iowa.