Sakyong Mipham is director of Shambhala International, a worldwide organization of more than 100 meditation and retreat centers. He is the son of the famous Tibetan meditation teacher Chogyam Trungpa and has been educated in America and India. He is the author of Turning the Mind into an Ally and Ruling Your World. Mipham not only teaches around the world but is an avid golfer, an accomplished equestrian, a body builder, and a practitioner of Kyudu, the Japanese art of archery. Now running in marathons can be added to the list of some of his favorite things.
Mipham believes that running and meditation are complementary — each supports the other. In preparation for his participation in a marathon, he starts training and works on what he is told — "building the base," which can take two years. As in meditation, Mipham is conscious of paying attention to his breath and posture. Equally important in these spiritual pursuits are discipline and patience to deal with obstacles and set-backs. He concludes that both running and meditation require strong motivation and determination.
Mipham turns to his Shambhala teachings and breaks his training into four phases: tiger, lion, garuda, and dragon. The "four dignities" as they are called stand for the inner development of a person with courage. In this long section of the book, the author ponders running and mindfulness, the sweetness of virtue, beyond hope and fear, and the power of intention. Mipham salutes this sport:
"When we are running — and when we are exercising in general — we are engaged in one of the most intimate and meaningful acts that might occur during the day. Running full-heartedly turns a period of exercise into something that is healthy for the body and also for the mind. In this regard, being mindful brings life."
