Going into meditation isn't always easy.
Much of the time there is a lot of stuff that seems to be in the way.
Doubts or worries,
Which cover up fear,
Sadness,
Anger or other emotions that disturb us.
We don't want these feelings,
They do after all disturb us,
So they are kept down to shield us.
However,
They tend to resurface in other ways.
To fear the antidote is courage,
To anger it is patience,
To sadness I don't know of one.
But maybe sadness doesn't need to be changed,
Maybe it just needs to be felt and with time it will change by itself.
I don't know yet.
What I do know is that clearing the mind of what seems to be the problem can let you get close to the feelings that are important.
Following the breath or other sensations in the body gives time and space for emotions.
These emotions may displease us when we want to meditate and feel focused,
But for now it is a fine time to let these emotions just come out.
The emotion may be tied to a thing or some things in the world that are wrong or out of order.
They may be tied to your needs or your desires.
If thoughts about these circumstances pop up,
That's okay,
But don't follow them.
Bring your attention to your breath while you hold space for the emotion.
Even if you want to find an answer or a solution,
Now is not the time.
Now is just the time to feel.
Let the sensations in the body be and let the breath move as it does.
Stay with the breath or come back to my voice when you feel like it.
Our desire to worry,
Think or plan is helpful,
But our attachment to doing it now is more often because of the feelings we have invested and not really because it's that important to do those things just now.
Look for a moment at the feelings instead of the thoughts.
Separate the thought from the feeling.
Separate the thought from the feeling.
Separating the thought from the feeling gives an opportunity to work directly on inner issues instead of going through the outer subjects.
So let's just sit for a while holding space.
Emotions may come and they may have some space.
Let them have some attention.
And if they seem to listen and disappear,
Let them do that.
And if they seem to stay,
Just let them hang around for a while.
In here there is a space where they can land in your attention and then if they feel like it,
They can fly away.
Hold both breath and feelings in your attention.
If you've been let down a stream of emotion or thought,
That's okay.
Bring your attention to your breath and find this balance between breath and emotion again.
Some feelings may take all of your attention and that's fine.
Returning is the point,
Not staying.
There is space in your awareness both for feelings and for breath.
Even in daily life.
In this space you can sit for as long as you want or you can end the meditation here.
