Let us begin by simply recognizing the breath.
We recognize that the breath is present.
The breath is alive.
Recognize that without the breath,
There would be no life.
Recognize that without the breath,
There would be no life.
In this,
We can recognize the profound appreciation for the breath.
Throughout your whole life,
In and out it flows.
And I invite you to recognize that the moment you think this breath is yours to control,
Breathing becomes difficult.
In fact,
The moment you put your attention on your breath,
It becomes a little bit more difficult,
Less natural.
You resist it in some way.
Notice that the breath is given so that life might be alive,
So that you might be you.
It is not yours to control.
It is not yours to withhold.
For when you do,
You start to feel like you're going to die.
In this,
We can let go of the breath and honor its flow.
If you were to hold your breath and start to feel pain,
Do you see the invitation from life that says,
My dear,
Breathe,
Breathe.
And in the same way,
If you feel the pain of withholding a sincerity,
Withholding what is true within you,
Life says,
My dear,
Breathe,
Breathe.
Let it out.
And to let it out is to acknowledge what's there.
It is to be honest with yourself.
Ignore all the spiritual rules and breathe.
Ignore all of the stories of how you should or should not feel and breathe.
Confess your heart to life.
If you must drop to your knees and surrender everything,
Breathe.
Do you see that if life is asking anything,
Life is asking for you to breathe.
Life is asking for you to be you,
Not demanding,
Inviting.
And naturally something within us says,
I wish I could just let go and breathe.
My goodness.
I wish I could just let it out.
I wish I could just be what I am and know that all is well.
Please recognize that such a space as this that we might call meditation,
But also understanding that this space is always here.
It's like recognizing that this space exists so that you can breathe,
So that you can be you,
So that you can be honest.
Is there any play greater than this?
Yes.
Then discovering a depth of love that continues to allow you to be you.
This is the real prize.
This is the only prize.
And so innocently insane is it to think that there is some other prize than this.
That a love extended to the totality of what you are.
A love extended to everything you feel,
Everything you think,
Every way that you move.
A love that is unconditional.
And this love seen within one's own being is the training ground that allows you to walk on this earth in love.
To connect with this love within that allows yourself to be yourself is a light that you can see within yourself.
To connect with this love within that allows yourself to be yourself is a light that shines and extends a love to others.
My goodness,
This is everything.
So funny is it that we think life might be about something else.
And as we connect with this permission to be as we are,
To feel as we feel,
Without a self judgment waiting around the corner,
May we extend this love to all others.
A love that isn't looking for something in return.
A love that doesn't want something from someone else.
But a love that holds space for love to be seen.
In this you will discover you are the love that you're waiting for.
You are not here to get love.
You are here to discover the depth of love that you already are.
And then share that love with the world.
But first,
You have to breathe.
And then share that love with the world.
