 |
| Riverside Park, Manhattan |
Every walk needs a destination, and for me it’s usually the
sight of water. I’ll walk happily by the
ocean, or around a lake or pond or reservoir.
But the best destination is a river – preferably a big river through a
great city.
The first sight of it inevitably brings a relaxation
response, felt in the belly, released in the breath, and finally reflected in
the mind. That’s when thoughts begin to
flow – not spilling over each other, but moving at an even pace, going somewhere.
More than any other sight in nature, a river is a mirror of
the mind. The ocean seems endless, incomprehensible. A lake or pond is hemmed in, like a small-minded person with a limited
repertoire of thoughts and feelings. A river is contained, but still open on both ends; you never know what
will turn up in the stream, or where it will go.
Three rivers stand out in my memory: the Thames , the Hudson ,
and the Ganges .
