A Meditation On Ethics, Shame, Dread, And Forgiveness

Are there clients and projects that are so compelling that you’re willing to turn away from that quiet voice that says, “Maybe not? This might not be right.”
No judgment!
It's just good to explore. It's interesting to see what tempts us, not into the deep weeds but just ever so slightly astray. And then it's also good, once we've seen, to forgive ourselves, and turn back, onto the path. Join me in this short meditation on ethics, shame, dread, and forgiveness in the law.

Transcript

So finding a comfortable posture,

Something that is supportive of your practice,

Seated or standing or walking or lying down,

But awake,

Alert,

Attentive,

And relaxed.

Sensing into the body,

Connecting to the earth,

Connecting to yourself,

Connecting to one another,

Bringing the attention to the breath,

Breath as an anchor,

As a home base,

As a refuge,

Or if breath isn't your refuge,

Then to sound,

The sound in your environment arising and passing away.

And maybe one thing you can explore right now,

If it's true for you,

Is that there is no shame or dread right now,

You know,

Having chose to take just a few moments here together in community to meditate,

Pay attention,

That there is,

That that choice is blameless,

That choice is a good choice,

Always a good choice.

Sometimes these tools for us as lawyers with our highly trained,

Reactive minds,

We might be looking for what's wrong.

And maybe if you look now,

There isn't anything wrong with the choice to sit.

And if that's true for you and you're finding you're finding yourself in a blameless moment right now,

A blissfully blameless moment right now,

Then maybe,

You know,

Sensing into that joy.

And if the wandering mind has captivated you,

Just letting go of any thoughts,

Plans,

Concerns,

And coming back to the breath for just the last minute of our sit together.

As I work with Hiri and Ota Pah Moore,

I can sometimes even catch that moment when the mind in meditation decides to slide away and entertain itself as my dear friend and teacher Robert Chandra says.

And I know that that's not,

I'm not meditating,

Right?

And so there's that sense of nope,

And coming back.