There's an old Buddha's teaching that when you throw a stick,
A dog will chase it.
But the lion,
With his unshakable presence,
Looks at the one who threw it.
The dog gets distracted by the immediate stimulus,
The stick flying through the air.
But the lion sees the bigger picture.
It doesn't get pulled into the drama of the thrown object.
Instead,
It maintains its centered awareness and recognizes the true source.
So this is the lion's gaze.
Not about seeing with your eyes,
But about the quality of your presence and awareness.
The lion doesn't react to every distraction.
It remains centered,
Unshaken,
And present.
So today,
We'll cultivate the same quality within ourselves.
The ability to remain steady while life throws its many sticks around us.
So when you're ready,
Let's begin.
Find yourself in a comfortable position that best supports your body at this time.
You're welcome to close your eyes or gently soften your gaze.
And take a moment to bring awareness to your breath.
Noticing your inhalation.
And noticing your exhalation.
And with the support of your breath,
See if you can allow yourself to settle just a little bit more.
And notice that thoughts,
Sounds,
And sensations might be arising right now.
This is natural.
But the practice isn't to stop these experiences,
But to stop chasing them.
To remain like the lion,
Aware,
But unmoved.
Now as your thoughts arise,
See if you can practice not chasing them.
Just witness them.
Let them in.
Appear and pass without following.
If a worry comes up,
Don't chase it.
If a memory surfaces,
Try not to pursue it.
If a sound or other sensation happens,
Acknowledge it,
But don't get pulled away.
This is the lion's way.
Present,
Aware,
But unmoved.
And see if you can notice the difference between awareness and reactivity.
The lion sees everything clearly,
But doesn't get hooked by what it sees.
And there's a sense of spaciousness here.
A natural dignity that doesn't need to prove anything or fix anything.
And if or when you notice you started chasing a thought or a sensation,
Simply return to this centered presence.
No judgment,
Just coming back to the lion's stillness.
Each return is strengthening this capacity for non-reactive awareness.
Breathing in and breathing out.
So now we'll practice with more challenging experiences.
Notice what's bothering you right now.
Perhaps it's physical discomfort,
Emotional tension of some sort,
Or mental agitation.
Simply noticing and witnessing.
The dog in us wants to chase these experiences,
Fight them,
Or run away.
But the lion simply acknowledges this is here now.
We're not here to try to fix or change what's arising.
We're just practicing not reacting to it.
Let it be there without being pulled into its story.
See if you can feel the difference between experiencing something and being overwhelmed by it.
The lion can feel the full intensity of what's present while remaining unshaken at its core.
This isn't suppression,
It's meeting intensity with an even deeper stability.
Breathing in and breathing out.
So it's said that this is true strength.
Not the absence of disturbance,
But the ability to remain unshaken by it.
And take a moment to see where this sense of strength might live in your body.
How can you feel your own strength within?
Knowing that as we continue,
Life will keep throwing sticks.
Thoughts,
Sensations,
Emotions,
Experiences.
Each one is an opportunity to practice the lion's response,
The lion's gaze.
Not chasing,
Not reacting.
Simply remaining present with what is.
This isn't coldness or detachment,
It's the deepest form of engagement.
Meeting life from a place of centered strength rather than reactive impulse.
And take a few more moments to rest in this quality of presence you've been cultivating as we near the end of this practice.
Start to bring gentle movement into your body,
Perhaps stretching,
Shifting,
Or wiggling your fingers.
Bringing aliveness back into your body.
But perhaps sensing something stronger now.
You're welcome to gently open your eyes if they were closed.
And start to orient to your surroundings.
Taking this lion's gaze,
This lion's presence with you as you move forward.
Remember,
The world will keep throwing sticks,
But the practice is to remain like the lion,
Aware,
Present,
And unshaken.
This strength is always available to you in any moment.
You can choose not to chase,
Not to react,
But to remain centered in your own natural stability.
So thank you for taking the time to practice with this meditation.
May we all be well.
May we all know strength and peace.
And may we all be free.
Thank you.
