No 1

THE ART OF MINDFUL CYCLING

“I thought of that while riding my bicycle” Albert Einstein, on his theory of relativity

Wouldn’t it be great if we could actually live more meditatively – practising as we go, with no distinction between rehearsal and performance? This is where the bicycle comes in – a machine that blends meditation with movement; curiosity with velocity; mindfulness with mudguards. On a bicycle, you can achieve in a few weeks an art that Buddhist monks spend decades learning, and which the great Einstein encapsulated effortlessly: mindful living. By helping us to avoid getting caught up in our thoughts, cycling can bring our whole worldview into balance. If you’re feeling tired, it picks you up; when you’re drifting, it gives you direction; when you’re struggling, it gives you momentum. No wonder the bicycle is often called the best invention in history.

Read more in Einstein and the Art of Mindful Cycling by Ben Irvine (Leaping Hare Press)