Welcome in,
I'm Kim Pask.
Today we'll explore Abhinvesa,
The instinctive fear that causes us to cling tightly.
Addiction often grows from fear of loss,
Change,
Or uncertainty,
And Abhinvesa is a deep fear and a clinging to safety.
This fear is deeply human and even the wisest of people experience this.
Remembering that the kleshas are not obstacles that we permanently eliminate,
But patterns that we return to with greater awareness,
Allowing each encounter to deepen our clarity,
Compassion,
And grace.
Abhinvesa brings the urge to control,
And often beneath the urge to control,
Avoid,
Or hold on tightly,
There is a simple desire to feel safe.
Today we will practice softening around that fear with breath,
Awareness,
And trust.
Feel your body supported and notice the steadiness of the breath.
The present moment is here.
You are here.
And we'll begin to bring in a gentle three-part breathing technique designed to increase presence within your body and a sense of ease.
We'll begin by inhaling in three parts into the low belly,
Upper belly,
Heart,
And then exhaling softly from the heart down to the upper belly and ribs and all the way to the base of your belly in one sweeping exhale.
We'll begin breathing in low belly,
Upper belly,
Ribs,
Softly into the chest,
And then exhale one sweeping breath out from the chest down through the ribs and finally to the belly.
Again,
Low belly,
Upper belly,
Chest,
Slow release.
Allow the breath to move like a wave through the body and continue for ten slow breaths at your own pace.
Continuing with your three-part breath,
Low belly,
Upper belly,
Heart,
Sweeping exhale out from the heart down to the base of your belly,
Low belly,
Upper belly,
Heart,
Sweeping exhale out from the heart down to your belly.
Take about three more rounds before settling in to a more natural breath.
Each breath comes and goes.
Sensations rise and fall.
Thoughts shift.
Emotions move.
Just like breath,
Urges and fears can move through us,
Allowing you to release control,
Knowing you do not need to have control of every experience in order to be safe.
Now we'll begin by gently connecting a mantra to your breath.
As you inhale,
Simply repeat,
Let.
As you exhale,
Repeat,
Go.
Again,
Inhale,
Let.
Exhale,
Go.
Continuing by breathing in for what might be four,
Let.
Exhaling for what might be five,
Go.
Again,
Inhale,
Let.
Exhale,
Go.
Breathing out a count longer,
Allowing the body to soften around each breath.
Continuing for five more rounds,
Allowing each exhale to release the need to control every outcome.
Allowing each exhale to release the need to hold on so tightly.
Now we'll begin to transition into the traditional mantra.
As you inhale,
Silently repeating the seed sound hum.
As you exhale,
Repeating the sound sa.
Hum sa is a Sanskrit mantra often translated to I am that.
A reminder that beneath fear and grasping,
We remain connected to something deep and whole.
Breathing in,
Hum.
Breathing out,
Sa.
Allow the mantra to move naturally with the rhythm of your breathing.
Effortless,
Steady and continuous.
Now gently release the mantra and return to the natural rhythm of your breathing.
Notice the body resting here and feel the support beneath you.
Notice the weight of your hips,
The softness of your jaw and the steady movement of breath.
Notice that even after fear or grasping,
There is still awareness.
There is still breath.
Still presence.
Allow yourself to rest in that steadiness for a few moments.
May this practice remain available to you whenever you need grounding,
Softness or support.
May you move toward peace and steadiness.
Sat Nam.
