Good morning meditators,
I hope you're well.
If you've not joined me for meditation before,
Please have a look on the Gong Spa Band camp website for tips about posture and such like.
Assuming you've done so then let's just settle into this meditation together.
This is a state of inquiry.
This is looking to see who we are.
And if such a thing can be known,
Is there a way to know who we are?
We have a lot of assumptions about who we are and based on perhaps what people have told us,
People's opinions about us that they've shared with us,
Or perhaps about ideas we've had ourselves.
Or maybe we look at something more general,
Not specifically you or I but all people.
Maybe we look there for an idea of who we are.
Maybe we find these ideas in books,
From novels to philosophies,
Religious books.
Maybe we find who we are through experience,
Noticing ourselves in relationship with the world.
Perhaps we notice that our relationships with the world are always in flux,
Always changing.
Perhaps we find that experience is a very difficult way to measure who we are from one day to the next.
Things seem to change,
Such that we can't grasp anything solid and reliable about our nature.
Do we have a choice about who we are?
It seems as though we do,
As though we can decide to behave in this way or that,
And as such define ourselves as this or that.
But is this who we are?
And is there really any such choice at play?
And if there is,
Does it benefit us in any way to be choosing this or that?
If we decide we want to be good,
Do we not then suffer the results of our actions that seem less than our standards?
Do we not lose ourselves in these actions and these judgments?
Is it possible that who we are is not related to situations and judgments and choices?
But is something that does not change regardless of our situation,
Judgment or choice?
Let's take a minute just to observe the mind,
To see how choices and judgments rise and fall,
And whether something remains unchanging throughout.
So this unchanging center around which all the changes occurs,
Is this who we are?
And if so,
To what degree is it unchanging?
Does it exist because of our body and mind,
As some aspect,
Some result of body and mind,
And as such is limited by time and death of the body and mind?
Or are the body and mind concepts within,
Awareness which rise and fall,
Which have suggestions,
Something that you may submerge yourself within,
But essentially nothing more than the modern concepts?
And if so,
Is this unchanging awareness in which all concepts arise beyond time,
Beyond birth and death?
If we are awareness free of birth and death and time,
Is there anything to fear?
Is there anything else?
Let's spend another minute in this.
In this.
And boundless awareness.
And boundless awareness.
And boundless awareness.
And boundless awareness.
And boundless awareness.
And boundless awareness.
And to give of your love and kindness to it.
And is there any situation which does not benefit from loving kindness?
Any life that does not become more radiant?
Any life that does not become more radiant?
Any life that does not become more radiant?
Thank you for joining me in today's meditation.
Please feel free to meditate a while longer if you see fit,
Or if not,
Then just take a little bit of time bringing yourself around,
A little movement of the body,
A little awareness of sensation,
Change.
Gently opening your eyes.
Watching,
Seeing,
Being.
And giving a little kindness to yourself.
Making room for any adjustments that are needed.
I look forward to meditating with you again soon.
Okay,
My lovelies,
Bye bye for now.
Thank you.
