Return To Yourself Through Open Awareness

Throughout this series, we've returned to ourselves through the breath, the body, sound, awareness, kindness, and compassion.
In this final practice, there is nothing specific to focus on. Instead, you'll rest in open awareness, allowing thoughts, emotions, sensations, and sounds to come and go in their own way. Sometimes the deepest sense of presence arises not from holding onto an experience, but from allowing everything to be exactly as it is.

Transcript

Hi, This is Ksenia and welcome to a practice from the Return to Yourself series. And today we will be returning to ourselves through open awareness. You can take a comfortable position and for the next few minutes allow yourself not to achieve anything in particular. To begin, Simply note that you are already here. Notice your body. The breath. The sounds around you. And take one slightly deeper inhale. And a slow exhale. Now gradually stop focusing on just one thing and allow attention to become more open. Perhaps right now your experience already includes sounds. Physical sensations. Maybe thoughts. Emotions. And breathing. In this practice, There is no need to choose one experience as the main object of attention. Everything can come and go naturally. We allow every experience to be a part of our practice today. Sounds appear and disappear. Let your thoughts appear and disappear. Sensations continue changing. Emotions become stronger or softer. And all of this can simply be noticed. You may notice that the mind automatically begins holding on to some experiences or trying to push other experiences away. And that's completely normal. The moment you notice how the mind got distracted or there is a resistance here, That itself is already awareness. There is no need to create a special state. Again and again, You can simply allow experience to be exactly as it is. Very often we move through the day constantly trying to fix, Control or change experience And sometimes open awareness begins not when everything becomes perfect, But when we stop resisting the present moment quite so much. And in that, There may be a little more space, A little more softness, A little more connection with life as it is. Now gradually note the body again. Your breath. The sounds around you. The contact with the surface beneath you. Nothing needs to be held onto. You can simply remain here for a few more moments. Thank you for practicing with me. If this meditation was helpful, Please share it. You can save it or leave a short review. It helps other people find these practices too. And I'll be happy to see you in the next meditations from the Return to Yourself series. Take care and let's practice together.