Song Luo National Trail

Song Luo National Trail was once a hunting trial of the Atayal tribe. What was walked by hunters is now walked by tourists. Hunters hunted prey along the trail for survival but now tourists sought scenic views along the trail for pleasure. The way of living of the Atayal tribe has since changed, or modernized according to some, but at a cost that is probably too difficult to comprehend for outsiders.

So when I stepped on the pebbled trail, participating in an outdoor Chan walking meditation with volunteers from Dharma Drum Mountain, my mind had to abandon thoughts on the dilemma of development versus conservation. I practiced a technique called "direct observation", which requires that I observe things as they are and attach no emotions, judgments or descriptions to them.

With a goal to complete the meditation, I was defeated, rather awkwardly, by a mild diarrhea, which was presumably caused by two ice cream bars that I consumed before the meditation. It was one of the typical dog days, and the temptation of having ice cream seemed unavoidable.