Setting the intention to bring openness and compassion to things as they are.
Not to things as we imagine them to be,
But to things as they are,
And setting the intention
To bring that openness and that compassion to ourselves as we are.
Feeling this body of yours,
This field of the senses,
That you're a human being.
You could be so many things in the universe,
But you're a human being right now.
And sensing how interesting that is,
And how challenging that is.
So with your eyes closed,
Feel into your arms and into your legs,
And into those wonderful
Ever-changing healing sensations of the breath.
And feeling it all with a freshness,
With a gratitude,
That you have a body and a mind
And a heart that can connect with others.
Putting a gentle half-smile on your lips,
And just recognizing how wonderful it is to
Have breath,
To be able to breathe fresh air,
And tuning into that breath,
Noticing that
Breath.
And when the mind wanders from the breath,
When the mind escapes into its stories,
Into
Its constructions,
Just notice that with softness and gentleness,
And without judgment.
And come back to the present moment,
Thanking the mind each time it wanders,
And accepting
The mind exactly as it is.
Staying with the breath for another moment,
And moving into a mini-compassion practice,
Wishing for yourself,
May I be happy.
May I be happy.
May I find the true roots of happiness.
May I release what I assume happiness to be,
And just experience happiness.
And wish for yourself,
May I be free from suffering.
And may I be free of the roots of my suffering.
All those roots in my mind.
And adding,
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings everywhere be free.
And as we come to the end of this meditation practice,
Acknowledge yourself for having
Taken the time to connect to what is,
And connect to your body,
And connect to your
Breath,
And your mind,
In a way that will support your happiness,
And your health,
And
Your clarity in this world.
And opening your ears now to sounds.
You will hear the sound of a bell,
Listen to its sounds,
And when you can no longer
Hear it,
Begin opening your eyes.
