Zen For Everyday Life: Everything Changes

Welcome to Everything Changes, the third track in Quiet Summit’s Zen for Everyday Life series. This meditation invites you to reflect on impermanence, one of Zen’s most liberating teachings. Rather than resisting change, you’ll practice meeting it with breath, awareness, and gentle acceptance. Supported by original music, flowing harmonies, and a grounding drone, this session helps you release resistance and discover the ease that comes from moving with life instead of against it. Best experienced with headphones, it’s a chance to feel lighter, more spacious, and free.

Transcript

Welcome,

And thank you for joining me.

This meditation is titled,

Everything Changes.

It's the third meditation in the Zen for Everyday Life series.

In The Art of Just Sitting,

John Dado Laurie wrote,

In Zen,

Impermanence isn't something to fear.

It's actually the nature of all things.

Every sound,

Every breath,

Every season of life,

They are all moving.

When we try to hold on too tightly to these things,

We suffer.

But when we let change move through us,

We find ease.

Today,

We'll notice the natural changes happening right now,

And learn to rest with them.

Let's begin.

Go ahead and find a position where you feel supported and at ease.

If seated,

Let your spine be tall,

But not tense.

If you choose to lie down,

Let your arms and legs rest comfortably by your side.

Let your face soften,

Your jaw unclench,

Your shoulders drop away from your ears.

When you're ready,

Gently close your eyes.

Begin to bring your awareness to the easy rhythm of your breath now.

Don't try to change it,

Just notice it.

We'll start our practice today with some box breathing to help settle our mind and body.

I'd like you to inhale for a count of four,

And then hold for a count of four.

Exhale for a count of four,

And then hold for a count of four.

We'll do three rounds.

Go ahead and inhale,

And hold.

Now exhale,

And hold.

Now inhale,

Hold,

And exhale,

And hold.

Inhale,

And hold,

And long exhale.

Now go ahead and let your breath return to its own pace.

Notice how even in these few minutes,

Things have already begun to shift.

The breath now is not the same as the one before.

Your thoughts have changed since we began.

Even the sounds around you are different.

On each inhale,

I'd like you to notice what is here right now.

The feeling in your body,

The sounds in the air.

And on each exhale,

Let it pass,

Knowing it will not return the same way.

Inhale again,

Greeting this moment.

Exhale,

Letting it go.

Inhale again,

Opening to what's here right now.

And exhale,

Releasing into change.

Continue on your own now,

Breathing in awareness,

Breathing out release.

Feel how each breath is unique.

Notice how even stillness can shift.

As we come to the end of our practice,

Begin to bring attention back to your body.

Feeling the ground beneath you.

When you're ready,

Open your eyes.

Notice how much lighter you feel when you stop holding on.

As we close,

Remember the Buddha's words.

Everything changes.

Nothing remains without change.

I invite you to carry this understanding into your day.

Thank you for practicing with me.

You're always welcome here.

Namaste.