On Sunday, May 31, the Zen Kannon Meditation Center organized an outdoor meditation for peace. The chosen location was Tetuan Square, one of the most emblematic green spaces in the neighborhood, located just a few minutes from Zen Kannon. The activity was part of the Dreta de l’Eixample Neighborhood Festival.
Meditation for Peace at Tetuan Square During the Dreta de l’Eixample Neighborhood Festival
A dozen practitioners gathered to share a period of silence and mindful presence in the midst of the city’s daily life. The event took place under excellent conditions: pleasant weather, a gentle breeze, and the shade of the trees, which cast shifting patterns of light over the participants as they maintained the posture of zazen.
The practice of meditation for peace is not about seeking perfect environmental conditions, but about learning to embrace reality as it is. During the session, the square gradually filled with life: people walking, cyclists passing by, families with children, and visitors enjoying the festival activities. At one point, a large group of young tourists settled very close to the meditation circle, bringing music, games, and lively conversations.
Practicing Peace Means Patience and Acceptance
Rather than seeing this as a disturbance, the participants used the opportunity to deepen their practice of patience and acceptance. Sounds, voices, and movement became part of the zazen experience, allowing them to arise and pass away without attachment.
During the second part of the meditation, we moved to another area of the square, where we rediscovered the tranquility and remarkable beauty of this place. We were accompanied by birdsong, sunlight filtering through the trees, the colors of the many plants and flowers, and the feeling of occupying our own space, of belonging to this place, to this earth that supports us.