Chapter 6: The Commute as Cloister – Finding Stillness in Motion

For many of us, the daily commute is a notorious time-sink, a period of perceived “wasted time” filled with traffic, crowds, or simply the drone of an engine. We often try to escape it by listening to music, checking our phones, or mentally planning our day. But what if this seemingly unproductive time could be transformed into sacred time—a modern-day cloister where you cultivate stillness amidst motion?
Brother Lawrence found his spiritual laboratory in the monastery kitchen, performing repetitive tasks with deep inner presence. Your commute, no matter how chaotic, can be your own moving monastery. The key is to shift from passive endurance to active engagement with the present moment.
Here are practical techniques for cars, trains, buses, and walking:
• Breathwork as Anchor: Your breath is always with you, a constant, reliable anchor to the present.
• In the Car: Instead of road rage, focus on the sensation of your hands on the steering wheel, the hum of the engine, and the rhythm of your breath. Try a simple “4-4-4” breath: inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four. Repeat. This calms the nervous system and grounds you.
• On Public Transit: Close your eyes, if comfortable, and simply notice your breath entering and leaving your body. Or, keep your eyes open and gently observe the world passing by without judgment, noticing colors, shapes, and movement.
• Conscious Observation: Engage your senses fully.
• Walking: Notice the sensation of your feet on the ground, the swing of your arms, the sounds around you, the smells in the air. Observe the trees, the architecture, the faces of people passing by, not as distractions, but as part of the vibrant tapestry of life.
• Any Mode of Transit: Instead of zoning out, consciously observe. Notice the textures of your seat, the sounds of the vehicle, the play of light. This isn’t about staring, but about opening your awareness to the richness of the present moment.
• Simple Repetitive Prayer/Mantra: Just as monks might chant, you can use a simple phrase or prayer to center yourself.
• Silently repeat a phrase like, “God is with me here,” “Presence,” “Grace,” or “I am here now.” Let the words flow with your breath, a gentle rhythm that keeps your mind from wandering into worries or to-do lists.
The ultimate goal of these practices is the art of arriving. How often do we rush from one place to the next, physically present but mentally still caught in the previous location or already anticipating the next? Practicing presence during your commute helps you transition from travel to a state of readiness and calm. As you step out of your car, off the train, or through your front door, take one last conscious breath. Arrive fully where you are, ready to engage with the next moment, rather than dragging the mental baggage of your journey with you. This simple act can transform your entry into work or home, imbuing it with peace and intention.