As human beings we're often fascinated with the content of our experience,
As we believe this to be the core of our reality.
We tend to believe that which is conceived through thought or perceived through the senses to be truth or reality.
We take this time together in meditation essentially practicing sitting quietly and withdrawing our attention from this fascination with objects and thoughts and perceptions and instead taking a step back and touching into our true nature,
Which is the true nature of reality.
Noticing that there's a body sitting here on the chair or the cushion.
Noticing that there are sensations in this physical body.
Taking a few moments to sense into and notice that there's all these different sensations that just appear in the body.
We're often fascinated by these sensations.
We give them a lot of our attention.
Instead,
Simply turning your attention away from the physical sensations in the body,
Turning towards the background within which the sensations appear and disappear.
Now noticing that there could be thoughts that arise as you sit here quietly.
Seeing that the thoughts arise without your consent,
All on their own.
Realizing then that these are not your thoughts.
Deeply questioning why are you so fascinated and indulgent with the thoughts that arise.
It's not necessary.
We can turn our attention away from the thoughts that appear and instead turning toward the background within which the thoughts appear and disappear.
Turning away from the content of all experience,
Whether it be a physical sensation,
Thought,
Perception.
Turning away from it all,
Withdrawing the mind from the content.
Instead sinking the mind into the sanctuary of the heart.
To the background within which all the thoughts,
Perceptions and sensations arise in.
Realizing that thoughts and perceptions simply veil the truth and do not point towards it.
Turning towards that which is in the background of experience again and again.
Realizing that this is where truth can be glimpsed and known.
Allowing yourself to observe and know the flow of experience without being carried away by it.
Perhaps noticing if you are the one who is aware of these experiences.
Experiences may come and go but the awareness that is present remains constant.
Getting to know yourself as this simple fact of being aware or awareness itself.
Disentangling yourself from the content of experiences.
Simply allowing whatever comes to come and whatever goes to go.
Sensing into the field or the background within which the experiences appear and disappear.
Stepping back again and again from the content of experience.
And resting in your beingness or presence.
We're not discounting or pushing away or resisting experience.
Simply seeing it rising and passing without getting caught up in it.
Simply allowing experience to be present as it is.
Recognizing the beingness or presence in the background.
Fully opening into the appearance of any experience and equally to the disappearance of any experience without resistance.
Noticing that as you do so become more and more deeply rooted in the fact of being aware or awareness itself.
Resting in this presence or beingness.
Knowing that there's no need to search for anything else or to resist what is present.
Simply being as the presence of awareness that you truly are.
Perhaps sensing into the peace and stillness as you rest in this background of experience.
This is the core of our meditation.
This turning away from the content of experience.
Turning towards background.
What I sometimes call the sanctuary of the heart.
Truth can't be known by a mind that's clouded by unreality.
Turning towards that which is in the background of experience.
Again and again you can glimpse and touch into what is real and what is true.
Turning away from the content of experience we create space for truth to become known.
Drawing the mind.
It's what allows us to detach from the transient and illusory world.
Turning toward the background in which all experience arises.
It's kind of a ongoing practice doing it again and again.
Allows us to glimpse into,
Touch into the reality that lies beyond the surface appearances.
Through this continuous turning we actively engage with the deeper dimensions.
Subtler aspects to reality or truth itself.
We transcend the egoic self in this way.
Move beyond the limitations of our conditioned mind.
This is a practice we can take off the meditation chair or cushion.
Practice of turning away from the fascination with thoughts and perceptions and sensations.
Sensing into the background within which it all arises.
Leaving space for truth to reveal itself.
Not chasing after truth or seeking.
It's already there.
It's simply clouded over or veiled.
Sounds so simple.
Simply turning.
Of course our egoic mind would love to complicate it a lot more.
Turn it into a whole project.
Complicate it some more.
Recognizing that kind of resistance.
Trying to complicate something that is already present and quite simple.
If we wish to look.
