…was sitting a couple mornings ago…that mindfulness meditation thing…cushion, incense, trippy music on the ipod…trying to be totally conscious…the usual drill…and the landlady’s cat, Zeke, started meowing on the stairs just below my door…since, apparently, she wasn’t home and he wanted to go outside….but I’d just started…had nearly half an hour to go…and am trying to be somewhat disciplined…so, kept sitting…for a minute…then two…and the cat kept it up, too…in a bland yet persistent rhythm…until, after some time, it occurred to me: I’m using meditation as an excuse to be less compassionate…got up, opened the door, went downstairs, and let the cat out…

*…an earlier version of this story appeared at Yoga for Cynics…*