From the start there seemed no way to measure progress …
There was only practice … Then frustration … And continuing … Breathe, Focus, Walk … “Am I there yet?” … Breathe, Re-focus, Walk some more … Continue.
Over the months and years some of Martha Beck’s book “Finding Your Way In A Wild New World” sank in. The squirrels really do hear and stop barking, the goose didn’t get up, and Chickadees noticed.
A new feeling was noticed … A certain ‘feel’ noticed in the body and the mind when all pieces of practice were happening; wide angle vision, mental focus on the spot between the eyes, walking … So mind helped reach towards no-mind … Simplifying the practice into one thing … Think about it and the mind brings up and runs that routine.
(Hmm, kinda reminds me of a ‘method’ in Java)
No, probably not presence itself, but yes, feels like successful movement in that direction.
Oh yes, by the way, it is rather pleasant … Not fully effortless, more like when walking turns from learning how, to thoughtless effort.
Why worth mentioning? One uses mind to get to no mind?
Stacking Sand 