Part of meditation and being present in general is not judging,
But there is one judgment we have to make.
The Torah says,
שופטים ושוטרים תיתן לך בכל שערכה Judges and officers you shall place in your gates.
And what's the job of a judge?
It says,
לא תכיר פנים,
Don't show favoritism.
Literally,
It means don't prefer faces,
Which is a good rule for a judge.
But on the level of consciousness,
It means don't favor one moment over another,
Or don't favor one face of God over another.
In other words,
Don't wish you were somewhere else.
Instead,
Bring your energy and focus into this.
Noticing and resting in the color,
The feel of whatever mood is present for you right now.
Not resisting,
But relaxing into the feeling.
Bringing awareness to feel the flow of your breathing.
Bringing awareness to feel the flow of your breathing.
Each breath drawing you more deeply into connection with the fullness of the present moment.
Each breath drawing awareness more deeply into your body.
Feeling down through your torso into your belly.
Awareness permeating your organs.
Gratitude for the support of your physical body,
The temple of your consciousness.
Bringing awareness down through your legs and feet and toes,
And upward chest,
Shoulders and neck,
Arms and hands and fingers.
Offering your attention to your body as an act of love,
Generosity,
Giving love through awareness.
Feeling awareness into your face,
Facial muscles,
Brain and nervous system.
Bringing a little smile to your lips,
Being the benevolent,
Loving,
Indwelling presence.
Life in the temple of the body.
And expanding to notice what's around you.
Sounds,
Feel of the space.
Recognizing that the outer world along with your inner world of feeling and thoughts that come and go are all part of the fullness of this moment,
Arising with your body,
Your mind,
Your body.
Within this boundless field of awareness.
And you are this field.
You are this presence.
Within but also beyond any particular experience.
And just resting in the flow of breathing,
Being the space of awareness.
And closing the meditation.
May this openness and our discernment of non-judgment allow us to be present and bring the wisdom and generosity of that presence to every moment of life.
Amen,
Amen.
