So we are going to begin with a poem,
The Vow.
At some point,
She realised she had to make a choice,
Or her weaknesses and her fears would dominate her for the rest of her life.
The pain of being aware of seeing the consequences of not choosing had become more painful than continuing to giving in.
So she made a vow,
Not about the future,
But about what she would do now,
In this moment,
Over and over again.
So that's what we can do,
We can make a vow.
And the vow is to return home,
Over and over again.
When I say return home,
Return home to presence,
To the body,
To the heart,
Whatever you want to call it,
Whatever name you want to give it.
But it's not a case of just dragging ourselves back home,
It's more elegant than that.
When we find ourselves on an emotional ride or just engaging in a little story,
We refuse again and again to be dominated by our thinking.
Part of that vow is to release that virtual world and to relax back home.
And to be interested in home,
What does this feel like?
What does presence feel like?
Not naming it or analysing it.
Just nestling,
Like nestling in there,
Just feeling into presence in a very gentle way.
Not wanting anything,
Which is resting.
Listening to the heart,
Listening to the sounds,
All part of presence.
Home is a metaphor for safety and warmth and security,
Ease.
So let's take a vow,
At least for this session.
Settling into the body,
Have a period of silence to allow you to do this.
Sense into being,
Into presence.
At some point you may notice that you're on an anxious ride,
Your mind has carried your attention away somewhere.
Just release those thoughts and come back to what's really happening.
The breath,
Sound of the rain.
Just come home.
If you notice a feeling of sadness maybe,
Something similar,
Just sit at home with it.
Don't leave.
Just feeling the body.
But relax.
We're not waiting for something to happen here.
Just spend time at home.
We wait without wanting.
Right now whilst sitting quietly at home,
The only thing that can trouble us is our own mind.
See that.
When we leave home,
There it is,
The potential for drama.
So decline it.
Just gently let it pass,
And you're back home.
You may just check that you're not tensing,
Striving.
If you are,
Just take a deep breath.
Just drop into the body,
Drop into presence,
And relax.
If you let go of any effort to achieve,
You find peace or ease.
Because that very activity of efforting is taking away from presence,
From home.
So relax.
Relax into your home.
Feel it.
Feel the breath.
Just keep it simple and elegant.
You need a place to put your attention,
Either on the breath,
Or in the hara,
Below the navel.
So we're taking the attention out of the head.
Then a little chatter happens.
And we notice it.
And it's gone.
Leaving no trace like a bird in the sky,
Or fish in water.
Some thoughts which are heavier may leave a trace.
It disperses for a little while.
And relax.
The session to an end.
Hopefully continue with the vow to come home during the day.
Okay,
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you guys.
Bye bye.
See you tomorrow.
