Meditation From The Path To Waking Up

Each of the eight steps of the mindfulness path - the path to waking up - feels important. But the first, which emphasizes that everything we say and do matters, feels like the most important to remember. When I do, I’m kinder on call-center calls, more compassionate to people who upset me, curious about political views that seem diametrically opposed to mine and the neighbors who hold them.

All eight billion of us share this small planet we call home. So, we have a binary choice. We can save our kindness for those we feel “deserve” it, or care about everyone and the earth. One choice got us into the pickle we’re in. The other might just get us out.

Transcript

Finding your seat, The posture for you right now, Today, In this moment, That is most supportive of your practice, Most supportive of taking the next 10 minutes or 9 minutes to be silent, To look inwards, To collect and calm the mind and body and heart, Bringing the attention to the body and how it feels to be sitting here or if you're standing or lying down or walking or driving, How does it feel to be in this body called you and to be breathing, Just sensing into the breath as it's flowing in and out of the body. Sensing into and attending to the breath, Bringing the attention, The awareness to the breath. And then once there is some stability, Some calmness maybe, Then sensing into the other beings in your environment, The human beings and the other beings as well, Those in your home, If you're at home, Or your office, If you're at work, Or the other drivers, If you're driving on the road, The other human and other beings in your town or city, In your country, Your hemisphere, And all of the beings on this beautiful blue planet and just connecting to all beings and noticing how that feels. Does it feel like we belong to one another? Feels like that to me. How does it feel for you? And what practices might support you in connecting in that way and seeing that we do belong to one another? Does the heart want to open just a little bit more? Do the hands want to unclench a little bit? The hands or the jaw? At Upaya Zen Center, They chant every evening. Let me respectfully remind you, Life and death are of supreme importance. Time passes swiftly and opportunity is lost. Let us awaken, Awaken, Take heed. Do not squander your life.