My name is Alonzo Davis,
Also known as the Life Lama,
And I'd like to welcome you to this Insight Timer Meditation.
In this meditation,
We're going to explore the powerful practice of acceptance.
Pain is a part of life,
Sometimes small,
Sometimes overwhelming,
But suffering,
The ongoing inner struggle,
Only arises when we resist what's happening.
This session isn't about pretending pain doesn't exist,
And it's not about giving up.
It's about learning to meet reality as it is,
With an open heart and a steady mind.
Through awareness,
We can change our relationship to pain,
Creating space for healing,
Peace,
And resilience.
All you need to bring is your breath,
Your awareness,
And your willingness to just be here.
We would do this meditation in several sections.
At the end of each section,
You'll hear the sound of a bell that will give you time to silently reflect on what we talked about in this section.
So let's begin.
Begin by finding a comfortable position.
Let your body relax into the support beneath you.
Close your eyes gently,
Or soften your gaze.
Notice your breath rising and falling.
There's nothing else you need to do right now.
Simply breathe and arrive here.
I'll give you a few moments to settle in.
Life will bring pain,
Small losses,
Disappointments,
Grief.
It may show up in ways we expect,
Or it may show up in ways we never imagined.
Right now,
Invite yourself to acknowledge this truth.
Pain is part of being human,
And that's okay.
See if you can allow that thought to settle,
And let it settle without resistance.
Now,
I want you to gently notice.
The mind often says,
This shouldn't be happening.
That reaction in and of itself creates tension.
It layers more pain onto what's already there.
What if you let go of the fight?
What if you whisper to yourself,
This is happening.
I may not like it,
But I will stay with it.
Can you feel a little softening around the pain?
Just by accepting that it's there.
Take some time to reflect.
Now,
Sense the difference between pain and your relationship to that pain.
Pain is the feeling.
Suffering is the story you tell about that feeling.
What if you stop telling the story?
What if you simply allow the feeling without any judgment?
You are not the pain.
You are the awareness of the pain.
The vast open space that can hold all experiences.
Feel the space around the pain.
Feel the part of you that remains untouched.
Finally,
Take a slow,
Deep breath in,
And breathe out fully.
As you move forward from this meditation,
Remember,
You don't need to get rid of pain.
You can learn to live with it with an open heart and a spirit that stays free.
Acceptance is not giving up.
It's coming home to life as it is.
Now,
Thank yourself for being here,
For practicing courageously today.
And when you're ready,
Gently open your eyes.
Thank you so much for taking the time to meditate with me.
