The traffic roared in front of us, punctuated by periods of blissful quiet when the crossing lights turned red.
We were meditating in a line on the pavement outside the oldest purpose-built Barclays Bank on Fleet Street, in the heart of London.
There were moments of concentration followed by distraction and confusion about the number and direction of different sounds.
Feelings ebbed and flowed: relief to be out on the streets again, doing something to bear witness publicly to the Climate and Ecological Emergency. Moments of deep peace. Curiosity about the police officers chatting to a rebel in front of us. They seemed friendly. Wanting to be safe, and at the same time, wanting to be heard for my urgent concern for impacts on the welfare of current and future beings.
Shantigarbha is author of The Burning House: A Buddhist response to the climate and ecological emergency due out next month.