Good morning.
Let's both take this opportunity to settle down and rest in whatever way is comfortable for both body and mind.
Neither too tight nor too loose.
Meaning,
No need to search for relaxation or rest.
No need to attempt to find some perfect posture to sit in.
Or even some perfect comfort if lying down.
And no need to hold some idea that relaxation or rest means flopping over like a jelly.
Let's just be as we are.
Mentally,
Physically,
Spiritually.
Whatever else you can think of,
Lee.
Let's be as we are with this moment as it is.
All is okay.
Nothing needs to change right now.
And this doesn't mean that there may not be some appropriate action to take following this session.
Since we're here,
Since we chose to come and practice or contemplate,
Then let's be here right now.
And let's use this period of rest to support and inform whatever we choose to do next.
And so if you like to use what's often called a meditation support or a meditation object,
Such as the breath,
Feel free.
If your preference is more towards what's often called open awareness,
Feel free.
Gautama Buddha said that he declared only one thing.
Dukkha and Dukkha Nirodha.
The most accurate translation being dissatisfaction and the end or cessation of dissatisfaction.
And this is a powerful kind of spiritual compass,
If you will.
And the reason I mention it here and now is because our practice is really about moving in the direction of Dukkha Nirodha.
Moving in the direction of accepting things as they are.
In the direction of peace.
In the direction of happiness.
Happiness,
Of course,
That is independent of circumstances.
And so as we sit here together,
Let's each do whatever it is in this moment that takes us in the direction of satisfaction,
Of peace,
Of freedom.
Pap hers.
When thoughts,
Feelings,
Sensations arise,
Accept them as they are.
Perceive them to be like the weather.
It's easy enough for us to acknowledge that good weather and what we call bad weather are a part of our ecosystem.
It may be a grey rainy day outside,
But we know that we need those grey rainy days in order to grow our food and keep our landscapes green.
What we call negative emotion or negative thinking is part of the human condition.
Not a single human being can say that they have never been sad.
And by being sad,
We know what happiness is.
We may practice whatever form of mindfulness we practice with the idea that we can somehow increase positive emotions and positive thinking and decrease negative emotions and negative feeling.
And this may occur,
But it's best approached indirectly.
For example,
If we attempt to force ourselves to be happy or we attempt to deny ourselves feeling sad,
We are in opposition to what is.
We are declaring that some aspect of ourselves is unacceptable,
Not good enough as it is,
In need of being changed.
I recommend instead that we change our frame of reference and look at our thoughts and feelings like the weather,
Mere passing clouds gliding through the sky of awareness which is always open,
No matter how obstructed it may seem in learning to take our feelings and our thoughts lightly.
We divest them of their power.
We cease to buy in.
And perhaps we may experience an increase in what we call positive thoughts and emotions and a decrease in what we call negative thoughts and emotions.
But if we can change our frame of reference,
If we can change the way that we relate to our thoughts and feelings,
We see that they cannot hurt us.
We see that they cannot push us around,
So to speak.
And we find true freedom,
Freedom which is independent of circumstances,
Not only external but also what we call internal circumstances.
Freedom from states,
Freedom from conditions.
Experience this freedom with me now by deciding that however this moment is,
It's okay.
It's okay.
It's okay.
It's okay.
If this teaching resonates with you,
You may benefit from creating a mantra.
It's okay.
It's okay.
So that whatever arises in a moment,
You accept.
You find yourself able to handle,
So to speak.
And yes,
When we come and sit in practice in a distraction-free environment,
This may seem easier than when we're up and about.
It's okay.
We practice,
And then we integrate.
May we all be at peace with whatever arises.
May we all be okay.
