Queer Practice: Integrating Our Experience

A practice for integrating our life experiences (with a special emphasis on the overall experience of identifying as queer or specific instances of it): a guided journey to reassembling our sense of self around positive qualities of mind and heart. Based on an original method developed by Dr. Alex Berzin on the basis of Buddhist teachings on emptiness.

Transcript

This is a guided practice for integrating one's life experiences,

Specifically designed for queer practitioners.

In general,

This method is based on a system of practice that was developed by Dr.

Alex Burzin on the basis of the traditional Buddhist teachings on emptiness.

When working with this practice,

In order for it to have the greatest effect,

It's potentially beneficial to do the practice over and over again,

Working with the same overall experience,

For example the overall experience of being queer,

Or a specific time period,

Specific situation,

Specific relationship,

And so on.

So if we feel inspired to integrate these different experiences in our life,

And for this practice in particular,

Our experience of being queer identifying as queer practitioners,

There is some benefit in allowing our mind to absorb the practice deeply,

Through familiarizing ourselves with it again and again.

And in order to do that,

In order to familiarize ourselves with the practice,

We simply go back to our body,

Allowing it to relax,

Descending into this broad field of somatic awareness throughout the body.

Our experience of breathing,

Our experience of the stillness in the body,

And all the tactile movements against this background of stillness.

Keeping our awareness in the somatic field to relax,

To let go,

To settle our body,

Speech,

And mind in their natural state of relaxation,

Stability,

And vividness.

And now,

With this relaxation as our basis,

We remind ourselves of our overall motivation for practice,

Not just this specific practice,

But any meditation that we do.

What is my long-term spiritual or psychological aspiration?

Not only for myself,

Not only for my own benefit,

But also for the benefit of others.

And so recalling this aspiration,

Thinking of it as our goal,

As our purpose for this practice.

And with this motivation,

Turning our minds to the specific experiences that we want to focus on in this specific meditation,

What do we want to integrate this time?

It might be our overall experience of being queer,

Growing up queer,

Identifying as queer.

It might be a specific time period,

Or a specific relationship,

Or a specific aspect of our identity.

Thinking of what the object is in this case,

And imagining this experience that we want to integrate in front of us,

Represented by a visual image.

Something simple.

It can be an abstract image that helps us recall the experience,

It can be an image of a building,

A human figure,

It can be our own body,

Anything that reminds us of the specific experience we want to work on,

The experience that we want to integrate,

Absorb,

Process.

And so recalling the experience in this way,

We first take a moment to recognize the fact that any experience in our lives would necessarily have some problems that it entails,

It would have some level of suffering and discomfort.

There would be some shortcomings to it.

And so taking a moment to recognize the shortcomings or the difficult aspects of this specific experience we're thinking of.

For example,

Thinking,

Yes,

It was painful,

Or it was difficult,

Or I was ashamed,

Or I was in pain.

Any sort of recognition of this difficulty.

And then actively thinking about the fact that this difficulty came about through many different factors,

Through a complex system of causes and conditions.

So it's not my fault,

It's not the fault of this specific person or institution or fate.

Any problem that we might have experienced would necessarily come about through a complex system of interdependence.

So recognizing that complexity.

And then recognize that in this moment right now we also have the choice of admitting and accepting the difficult aspects,

But also focusing our minds on the more positive outcomes.

And so shifting our attention to the positive qualities,

The positive qualities that this experience has inspired in us or can inspire in us.

What are some of these positive qualities?

Why are identifying them?

At least three.

Three positive qualities of our mind,

Such as love,

Compassion,

Patience,

Wisdom,

Anything like that.

What are the positive qualities that I can learn from this experience?

That I have learned?

And that I can learn further?

Identifying them.

And then strongly wishing to be inspired by these qualities to a greater degree.

I want to gain these qualities,

Manifest them,

Bring them about.

And this is what this experience allows me to do.

So imagining that out of the visual image of the experience that we have in front of us,

A gentle stream of golden warm light comes forth,

Entering our body,

Speech,

And mind,

And inspiring them with the qualities that we have identified.

Our entire body,

Our mind,

Being infused with these qualities.

Imagining that these qualities are growing,

Becoming stronger,

Bringing more benefit to ourselves and to others.

And then imagining that these qualities have indeed been strengthened in our mind.

That we can indeed now identify with them.

For example,

Identify with being a compassionate person or loving person or patient person,

Or at least a person that aspires for these qualities and truly values them.

And then thinking about how we might want to share these qualities with others,

Having learned them ourselves to a certain degree,

We might want to inspire these qualities in others.

And so imagining that now this golden warm light is coming forth from our own body,

Speech,

And mind.

And we are extending this light to our immediate or chosen family,

Our friends,

Our supporters,

Our teachers,

Our children,

To people that we care about.

And then even to people that we dislike,

So that they also might learn these qualities.

And then to everybody,

All the beings throughout the world.

Every sentient being that might get some benefit from these qualities.

Imagining that all of them are truly transformed,

Blessed,

Inspired by these qualities.

And so the entire world is changing for the better.

And so letting go of our self-identification for a short while,

We can even imagine melting in this broad,

Expansive ocean of golden light.

But it's not just a visual symbol,

We're thinking about the qualities that it represents.

The beneficial qualities of the heart and mind.

Seeing the entire world becoming a safer,

More welcoming space for everyone.

Breathing naturally and aspiring,

May it be so.

May these qualities truly inspire myself and others.

Truly become a part of the very fabric of this world.

And then gradually letting go of these aspirations,

These images,

These thoughts.

And for a short while,

Allowing our awareness to rest without a specific support.

To merely be the stream of cognizance and clarity.

An empty awareness.

And in this empty awareness,

Dedicating the effort that we have just applied,

Dedicating this positive mental energy to the aspirations with which we began.

Our overall spiritual motivation,

Psychological motivation for doing any sort of meditation practice.

So that it might bring greater benefit and happiness,

Greater freedom from suffering to all beings.

Sealing our practice with this dedication as we invite the bell.

Reviews

This is pure wisdom and so heart-opening. I thought of something mildly difficult to start, now I feel encouraged to practice with something deeper next time. 🙏🏳️‍🌈

A reminder that no matter what mt path has been like, I can always be kinder and more accepting of myself.

I will need to repeat this many times.
As always, with gratitude 🙏🏼

Wow. Integration is key. Was able to integrate my experiences and had so many film ideas. Thank you. This was magical.

Thank you for this meditation

Thank you 🙏🏼 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ a daily meditation that I enjoy 😊 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

Really nice guided meditation based on the Buddhist emptiness 🙏

What an exquisite gift! Thank you!

Grateful for this guidance, which, I believe, can be truly healing

A superb meditation; effective imagery, gentle leading into integrating a chosen experience through awareness and intention. Beautifully spoken, thank you🙏💗

Wonderful meditation 🧘🏽‍♂️. Thank you 🙏 🤗 🥰✨💫

Amazing practice. Thank you 🙏🏿

Thank you, this was just what I needed. I will return to this meditation again.

Totally different from what I imagened, but still very nice. Helps to integrare problematic or difficult relationships or prts of oneself

Thank you! What a wonderful queer focused meditation experience 🧘🏻‍♂️

A nourishing and affirming healing practise. I will return to this often. Thank you and much metta.

Wonderful. (This is the first queer-specific meditation I have heard on IT, so that’s good, too.)

I would not recommend this to absolute beginners to meditation, but it is quite accessible once you feel comfortable with the basics.

It’s a great intro to a technique that can be applied to many aspects of anyone’s life (not just queer-identified folks), though again I applaud the specificity of this recording.

Bears repeat listening —in fact repetition is explicitly encouraged in order to familiarize yourself with the practice. Just note that there is a fair amount of introductory information that you may want to fast forward through after a couple of listens (assuming you are an app subscriber).

Vividly beautiful teaching!

A clearly articulated guide into aspiration, embodying positive qualities, and sharing those with are loved ones and our community.

I found this to be a method deep acceptance which left me feeling hopeful and inspired. Thank you, Lobsang Tenpa.