Roomy road.
You wander from room to room hunting for the diamond necklace that is already around your neck.
Speed is wanting to be elsewhere but in the present moment.
So speed versus stillness.
What to choose?
The instant dopamine or the coming home to the unknown?
Today we are coming home.
We are coming home to signal to our brains that we are a safe container.
We are building resilience and open awareness that can hold all the joys and sorrows.
Not just the joys and sorrows of our own heart but of the entire universe.
And soon we realise we are everything we were looking for all along.
So now please get comfortable.
Sit up with ease and gently close your eyes.
Now pay close attention to your breath.
Just notice it coming in and out without much effort.
Sometimes it helps to pay attention to a particular part of your body.
That could be your nostrils,
Your chest or your belly.
Just notice what your breath feels strongest and just gently rest your attention there.
Now together let go and fully exhale through the mouth.
We are going to inhale through the nose for four seconds.
We are going to pause for six seconds.
And we are going to exhale through the mouth for eight seconds.
Inhale for four.
Pause for six.
And exhale for eight.
Inhale for four seconds.
Pause for six.
And exhale for eight.
Now twice on your own.
Repeat this cycle two times.
Now gently let go of any expectations on the breath.
Absolutely zero effort.
And just let your breath come in and out effortlessly.
Now gently notice how your body and mind are feeling in comparison to a few moments ago before you started the practice.
Simply acknowledging and accepting this well-being signals that we are a safe container to ourselves and our body is finally able to relax.
We are learning to befriend ourselves by coming home over and over.
We are learning to love our bodies,
Minds and souls just as they are.
There is nothing wrong.
There is nothing to do.
Just follow your breath and accept this moment to moment experience.
From time to time thoughts,
Emotions,
Body sensations might take over.
And your only job is to simply acknowledge when you get hooked.
And when you do so,
Just simply observe where in your body you feel that tension arise.
It could be your pelvic area.
It could be tightening of your shoulders.
Shaking of your legs.
Just simply notice where there is a slight feeling of wanting to move.
And without any judgement,
Breathe with it.
With every exhale,
Just simply relax a bit more.
Let's take one deep inhale.
And a breathe out exhale.
Befriend and attend.
Over and over.
It doesn't matter how many times you get pulled by a thought,
An emotion,
A sensation.
Neither does matter how long you've been lost in it.
What really counts is your attitude towards it.
And how you allow yourself to come back into the present moment with tenderness.
Slowly but surely we are learning to relax our bodies and open our hearts.
Open our hearts to the mystery of life.
Where everything that is,
Is allowed.
The speed,
The calmness,
The love,
The frustration.
Everything that is,
Is welcome.
Relax your body and open your heart.
Over and over.
And for the last few minutes,
Just continue with this allowing.
Attending and befriending.
Open.
Opening your body and relaxing your heart.
And we close with a poem by the poet Wu Men.
He writes.
Ten thousand flowers in spring.
The moon in autumn.
A cool breeze in summer.
Snow in winter.
If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things.
This is the best season of your life.
