Vipassana--A left-handed perspective

By Heather Sullivan

When a ski injury tore the ulnar collateral ligament on my right thumb (dominant hand), I found myself having to learn to do many things with my left hand, including to write. I found myself painstakingly spending an hour a day practicing my letters, my numbers, printing, cursive and tiny journal entries because not writing was not an option for me. I began this practice during a 10-day vipassana meditation, just after the injury. The writing practice was almost as challenging as the meditation practice. I would get frustrated with how slow the writing was and how messy and hard to read it was.It was amusing to come across last year’s paper scribblings from the Vipassana with my slowly improving alphabet….and it was also interesting to read the words I chose to write…a wonderful encapsulation of the Vipassana experience. These words and memories may have been quite different, if I had my usual fast flowing right hand:Tree frog singsToday the rain cameOld majestic oak by pondEquanimityRobins returnedHoneybee in rosemaryNative bee waits turnPatiently, patiently Continue to work hardArdentlyPersistentlyContinuallyCrescent moon and VenusIt is 4:30amMake the most of your time hereObserve the respirationWithout reaction Vipassana means seeing things as they really areProcess of self-purification through self-observationDark closet cell in pagodaRaging thunder and lightning stormThis too shall passImpersonal, egolessHail ballsMorning gongNew moon cycle comes at closing meditationMettaDannaThe baby deer maintain noble silenceIncredible sunset rainbowMetallic golden orange winter sierra foothill backdrop Energy redirected for good use and aesthetically pleasingPuddlesAnittcha   changing impermanenceThe bird bathes when puddle is there and isn’t concerned when it is notA yogi is someone in communion with godBalance of the mindCalifornia droughtWriting left-handed is hardNever get frustratedKeep working, tirelesslyEquanimous mind

What musings come from your non-dominant hand?