Finding Peace and Movement: A Day with Gagan at Fountain House
Step into the Fountain House living room, and you might find yourself in a truly unique experience. On Sunday, January 19, a Buddhist monk named Gagan, dressed in a simple gray robe, visited our community to share his wisdom and guide us through meditation and movement exercises. Among the participants were members and staff of Fountain House, including YACC members and YACC director Anna Guimaraes.
A Powerful Parable
Gagan shared the Buddhist parable of the mustard seed:
- The story: A grieving mother, Kisa Gotami, approached the Buddha, desperate to bring her dead child back to life. The Buddha asked her to find a mustard seed from a household where no one had ever died.
- The lesson: As she searched, Kisa realized that every family experiences loss. This helped her accept that death is a natural part of life and find peace with its impermanence.
Gagan used this story to highlight the Buddhist concept of impermanence (“anicca”) and to teach us an important idea: while pain is inevitable, suffering is a choice we make based on the stories we tell ourselves about our pain.
Imagine stubbing your toe:
- If you think, “I’m so clumsy. Everything bad happens to me,” you’re creating suffering through negative self-talk.
- But if you think, “Ouch, that hurt, but it’ll pass soon,” you acknowledge the pain without letting it take over your thoughts.
Movement, Meditation, Tea and Mindfulness
During the session, we were treated to soothing herbal tea generously provided by Mike Brown’s EWP office—thank you, Mike! The warm, calming tea set the tone for an afternoon of mindfulness and reflection, allowing everyone to feel relaxed and connected as we listened to Gagan’s wisdom and participated in the activities. It was the perfect complement to the day’s peaceful atmosphere.
Gagan also engaged us in Taoist martial arts exercises that gently loosened our joints and muscles. He guided us in meditation, teaching us to gently “shoosh” intrusive thoughts and focus on our breath. To help us center our energy, he passed out engraved wooden tiles. He encouraged us to focus all our obsessive thoughts into the tile’s design, and we meditated together as a group, finding calm and clarity.
Fun fact: Gagan admitted his recent obsession had been manual car transmissions (stick shifts), and he had been watching videos imagining himself driving one!
What’s Next?
Gagan will return to Fountain House monthly, likely on Sunday afternoons, to share more wisdom, movement exercises, and meditation techniques. Don’t miss the next session—explore the mystic arts of mindfulness and movement. You won’t regret it!
- Next PIP Event: Sunday, January 26 @ 2 PM. Transit Museum at Grand Central Station (featuring a stunning model train display).
Want to join PIP or other exciting activities? Text or call me at (929) 884-3564 or email [email protected].
Hope to see you there! 🌟
