Waiting room meditation

Living in a community means using services with fellow human beings. In our fast-paced life, this becomes a source of impatience and annoyance because this means waiting in line to be served. Whether it is at the doctor's office, at the Post Office, or at the grocery store! This may be standing in a queue at a ticket booth or at a bookshop or at your favorite store.

One other place where a lot of waiting happens is at convergence points, such as train stations, on the road, bus stops and at airports. Airport waiting can often be frustrating especially when there is no clear information available about the departure or arrival of a plane.

All of these occasions are great opportunities for meditating. Sitting at the Airport Terminal, just close your eyes and take a few minutes of space, extracting yourself from the "waiting" and transplanting yourself to "being" status. If you prefer, you can keep your eyes half closed or even open, looking at a general area in the distance. When standing in a line, you can maintain your alert mode and bring focus to your breath. This practice also helps you to be in the moment and shift from an impatient waiting mode, to merely being, observing, enjoying being alive.

Remember that meditating in a public place means you find a spot where you can be secure and safe. Then while meditating, you allow yourself to become acutely aware of your environment. Sounds and vibrations become more apparent to you in this state. 

So give it a try. And next time you have to wait anywhere, think of it as a divine gift to be present, a chance to tap into the vast ocean of consciousness.