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.
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