How to remain curious as a practice.
Let's take in a lovely deep inhalation.
Breathing in through the nose.
And release,
Breathing out the mouth.
Let's settle our minds.
And just breathing normally at the nostrils.
Just gently without forcing it.
And rest your awareness just on your breath.
There's nowhere to go.
There's nothing else to do.
Just be here now.
See if you can hear your breath very subtle.
Bring your hearing into play.
And now expand your awareness of sound to the room that you're in.
Whatever sounds you notice that are arising.
And then expand your awareness even further to distant sounds.
Now,
Whatever sounds are happening for you.
Whether they're nearby or far away.
Pick one sound and observe.
Is this annoying?
Is this pleasant?
Or is it neutral?
So for me,
I can hear a helicopter approaching.
And I'm trying to record the session and there must be quiet.
So I'm feeling irritated.
I'm feeling judgmental.
Why are there so many aeroplanes and helicopters flying around today?
Annoyed.
Does everybody else find it annoying or is it just me?
I can remain curious.
Perhaps there's a sound of something beautiful that you love.
And ask yourself the question,
Does everybody love this sound?
Does everybody think it's pleasant?
If you are a motorbike enthusiast,
You might find the sound of a Harley Davidson amazing.
If you're not,
It may sound terrible.
But I can be curious.
Whatever sounds are arising for you right now.
Instead of using your labels,
Good,
Bad,
Ugly,
Annoying,
Beautiful,
Pleasing.
Be curious as to the sound.
And see it just for what it is.
Hear it for just what it is.
It's empty.
Because not all people or animals feel the same way about it.
However you feel is based on your conditioning.
And the things you like and dislike.
Then we can come to a deeper place of acceptance of what is.
And we know that our judgments can also change through our understanding and practice of this wisdom.
If you like,
You can push pause and continue with this sound practice.
Let's end this now with a beautiful deep inhalation.
Breathing in through the nose.
And breathing it out the mouth.
One of my favourite practices.
