Standing with Coffee

My first silent meditation retreat with Triple Gem of the North in March 2017 was a formative experience in my life. That weekend in Janesville, Minnesota was the first time I truly felt what it was like to live the practices of yoga and meditation throughout the day. Not just on the mat or cushion, but in the quiet, in-between moments that fill the day.

Many memories from that retreat have stayed with me. I remember the joy of my first time trying walking meditation. I remember the simple act of brushing my teeth with full awareness. And yes, I still recall the very real discomfort of knee pain from hours of seated meditation. All of it was part of the practice. Each moment offered its own kind of teaching.

There’s one interaction, though, that has stayed with me.

I was standing by a window in the dining hall, holding a warm cup of coffee. Bhante Sathi came by and gently suggested that I sit down to enjoy it. I can’t recall his exact words, but the message was clear: if you’re going to drink coffee, just drink coffee. Be fully with it. Let it be a complete experience, not something done while thinking of the next thing.

That suggestion has stayed with me. In fact, mindful coffee drinking has become an ongoing, and sometimes challenging, practice. My mind often wants to debate it: Is standing really so bad? Is sitting that much better? But I’ve come to recognize that it’s not about following a rule. It’s about paying attention. It’s about noticing how small choices shape the quality of our days and our inner lives.

That same challenge arises in so many moments: brushing my teeth, typing on my laptop, protesting in the streets. It’s not easy to bring full awareness to everything we do. For most of us, it’s simply not realistic to be fully present every single moment.

And so we practice.

Each of us is somewhere along this path. You’ve probably met people who seem to embody presence and authenticity in a way that lights up the room. And you’ve likely been in meetings where nobody seems fully there — everyone is distracted, multitasking, elsewhere.

The beauty of this path is that it’s yours to explore. You get to notice what brings you clarity and ease. You can feel into how your body responds when you sit with your coffee, rather than stand. You can explore what presence feels like in your own life.

Yoga, meditation, and other contemplative practices aren’t about rigid rules. They are gentle invitations. They encourage us to turn inward, to listen, and to live with a little more care.

So let your heart be your guide. Tune in to the quiet joy of being here. Whether you’re sitting in meditation or standing with coffee, let go of regrets about the past and worries about the future. And notice, even for just one breath, the peace that’s already present, waiting for you now.