5 May 2014

Reality & naked reflections!

"Hang on to reality and just fully take in this moment. It's a pretty rare moment." 

I thought to myself as I listened to the Prajna-Paramita Sutra (Buddhist Heart Sutra) being sung to me by Suzy who was sitting alongside me. The sun, high in the sky warmed the smooth, pure. outgoing tide washed sand beneath us. steep cliffs behind sheltered us from the brisk and eternal South West Algarve cool breeze. In front of us sparkled the blue, cold and relatively calm Atlantic ocean. We were both slowly warming up after our naked swimming immersion in this clean, bracing and wave rocked liquid gold. For me, being half Seal, I cannot keep out of the water, cold or warm. For Suzy though this daily 'cold water therapy' was healing and supporting her recovery from years of illness as was her very presence in this beautiful area. She lived in 'Paradise', the name of her house and plot of land both of which were wild and inside out. Inside her house was like being outside with beautiful wall murals and colourful mosaics while the rampant wild vegetation of the outside held you mischievously inside it's shaded haven of sensuous enclosing warmth.

I listened meditatively as the Sutra was gently and tunefully intoned to me. For a time, where we were on the spectrum of millennia seemed optional. Sea, sand, sky, two bare humans and only two sets of footprints visible on the smooth, beige expanse of beach.

Just a few days ago I had sadly dropped Barbara off at Faro airport and promptly disappeared into this wilder part of the Algarve for a few days adjustment to once again being on my own, something I love and for the time being have no intention of changing. This was reflection time for the beautiful fun and loving time we had enjoyed together.

As I felt the warmth returning to my body and listened to the naked intonations of this ancient Sutra I sat cross-legged and meditatively upright on smooth buttock imprinted sand. I could do no more than trust myself completely to the process and to the Universe, so benignly all about and cradling me. This was too big for a mere conscious and socially polluted human brain to make sense of. My full trust was given over unerringly to my unconscious and the unbelievably subtle and vast connection it enjoys with 'all that is'. Years of study and meditative practice were now bearing fruit. Right way / right path would appear, would show itself. I need not concern myself about that.

We rested as the warm rays of morning sun gained strength and the body's core finally decided it was safe enough to allow warm blood to flow to sea cold skin. Cold water therapy works on the principle of body being forced into optimal performance via the shock change from temperate air to cold water Done regularly, body and mind systems gain robustness and wellbeing. Works for me every time. I love the suffusion of good overall feelings that instantly arrive once the second or two of fear and shock of full immersion pass. As Suzy explained this therapy, a first for me, the beach was populating. A young naked family to our left with the toddler offering handfuls of sand to Tanya, who much to everyone's amusement, were carefully sniffed at before being rejected. To our right a very large elderly and brown as berries Portuguese couple giving another naked aspect to consider and reflect upon.

We slowly walked from the growing population on the beach and parted company at Sadie. It was time for me to move on. Sadie was eager, prepared and ready to roll slowly up the very rough track and transport us to our next adventure.

And the comparison. Well here I am now in the lap of luxury. I'm poolside in hot hot sunshine at Ian and Aju's very plush holiday apartment in the golf resort of Vilamoura. The complex is virtually empty and so far I have enjoyed multiple cooling swims having the huge clear blue cool pool all to myself. Once again. Heaven.

My exposure to the beautiful Heart Sutra has been noted however. 'Ashima's' hauntingly beautiful version, courtesy of Google Play store, is now quietly playing in the background on my smart-phone as I write this.

Thank you 'all that is' for two very different but equally reflective and beneficial experiences.
 



No comments: