Cicada Madness

While on retreat in the forest, an infestation of cicadas surrounded my meditation hut for weeks on end with intense, incessant screaming. Headphones offered no relief from the din. While bearing it, I closely observed mental pain. That meant seeing and knowing despair and anger too. I listened with patience and pure awareness, trying to draw forth threads – if not shreds – of compassion and empathy for myself. Weaving these qualities together repeatedly brought a welcome reprieve from the suffering – and a profound teaching for living the practice.  Sati Saraniya Hermitage, August 16, 2026