How To Care For Our Suffering

We are not alone in our suffering. This meditation is about looking deeply with compassion at the emotional or physical challenges we face in our lives, allowing us to be more at ease with them. This helps us to expand that compassion to others who also suffer.
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Transcript

The sound of the bell. The sound of the bell. The sound of the bell. The sound of the bell. The sound of the bell. The sound of the bell. So beginning just by feeling the support that's underneath you and around you. Letting yourself rest into that support. And then finding your breathing. Breathing in, I can feel I'm breathing in and breathing out, I can feel I'm breathing out. Breathing in, I can feel I'm breathing out. Following the breath from the beginning of the inhale to the middle of the inhale to the end of the inhale, And the beginning of the exhale, Middle of the exhale, And end of the exhale. Just cycling around. Inhale and exhale. Nothing to do. Nowhere to go. Just enjoying this time to follow the breath. And then becoming aware of your body from your feet to your fingers, Crown of your head. Chest and belly and back, Your whole body. And just inviting your body to settle right here and right now. My dear body, I know you are there and I am very grateful. And just noticing for a moment, The parts of your body that are not in pain that feel restful, Feel relaxed at ease. Notice the fresh air that you're able to breathe in. And maybe the softness of what you're resting on. And becoming aware that you've set aside this time for yourself today. And that you don't have to be doing anything else right now. Just letting that feeling of ease expand in you. Okay. . And then noticing in your body any places that feel tense or tight or any sadness or fear, Any difficulties that are arising for you and just turning toward whatever suffering is there, Small or large suffering that's there, Just turning toward it and saying hello to it. Hello, I know you're there. I know that you're suffering. Could be a physical pain or an emotional or mental suffering. And allowing yourself to really see it and embrace it. And if it feels right, You can just stay there or you can just become aware of how many other people or beings there are right now in the world feeling this same sense of struggle that you might be feeling. And just allowing yourself to expand your compassion for everyone, Yourself included, Who's feeling this way. . And if it feels right, You might sense into what this part of you might be needing from you or wanting from you right now. What could be helpful either now or later today or at some point? What could be helpful for this part? What might it like in terms of being taken good care of? And you might let this part of you know that you can offer that to yourself now or later. And that even though we'll be finishing soon, That you can always come back to this part, Come back and take care of it some more. You're not abandoning it. .