Just sit comfortably.
And again,
We're going to start doing Dong Lin for ourselves.
I'd like you to choose a theme that's going to actually run through the entire practice.
So,
What is something that you're suffering from these days that's really up for you?
So,
You naturally think of it.
So,
Take a moment to choose your theme.
Okay.
So now,
Imagine your small,
Suffering self either in your heart or in front of you.
Maybe just for simplicity's sake,
We'll all try the in-your-heart one together first.
And you want to take the suffering away from this small,
Suffering one.
And so,
You breathe in the dense,
Heavy clouds of suffering into your heart.
And your compassionate heart is like a window.
And all of the joy that's everywhere in this whole ocean of being,
You can tap into.
And so,
You breathe,
As you exhale,
You breathe that joy as glowing clouds into that suffering one.
And breathe a few breaths.
Breathing in the dense clouds,
Exhaling into that suffering self.
The glowing clouds.
And see their face change.
Those clouds are carrying such joy and happiness and relief from this specific suffering.
And that suffering one relaxes,
Becomes porous and takes that in.
And that suffering one relaxes,
Becomes porous and takes that in.
Really be specific with what the suffering is.
And then notice the change.
Really be specific with what the suffering is.
And then notice the change.
Now think of somebody who you easily feel close to and feel compassion for.
And since time,
Linear time,
Is an illusion,
Imagine them suffering something similar to that theme that you've already picked.
That suffering that's been up for you.
You don't want them to suffer from that.
Their similar version.
And so you breathe in those heavy,
Dense,
Dark clouds.
Breathe them into your heart.
And again,
Your heart is a window for that great power and joy.
That's an ocean that we're swimming in.
And you breathe out,
Filling them with that,
And they soak it in.
So take a couple breaths.
Our compassionate hearts are a pass through for the suffering and the joy.
So take a couple breaths.
Now you're thinking of another beloved who has suffered something similar.
And you breathe for them.
You want to take away that suffering and replace it with happiness.
Ultimate happiness.
Forever.
Notice them soaking in the bright clouds and their face changing.
And now you're thinking of more people.
No doubt everybody in this room has experienced a similar suffering.
And so you breathe for everyone in this room.
Now you might imagine whole swaths of people all across the world.
And they've,
Or maybe at this very moment,
Are suffering from something similar.
For example,
If it's physical pain,
You can imagine people in hospitals.
Or if it's the pain of being misunderstood,
You can imagine whole swaths of people who have been misunderstood.
Whatever it is that you have been working on,
It's up for you.
That's your theme for this sit.
Imagine big chunks of the world population suffering from that as well.
Something similar to that.
And you breathe for all of them.
The tide of compassion is rolling out and you feel strongly you really do want to take it away from all of them.
And replace it with ultimate happiness.
Always.
You're feeling almost kind of urgent about it.
You know what this suffering is and you want to take it away.
Now.
And you're seeing and feeling their faces softening.
And they're becoming happier.
They're kind of glowing.
And then you think that since linear time really is an illusion,
That everyone,
All beings,
Have experienced a similar suffering.
All beings have experienced a similar suffering at some point.
Maybe even more intensely.
And so you breathe for all and everyone.
So you're breathing in the dense clouds from all directions and breathing out the spacious glowing clouds in all directions.
And that's soaking into everyone.
Now we sit and savor.
Here we are.
All of these bright waves on this bright ocean.
Enjoy together.
