In this practice,
We're going to be working our way through all the links,
And in particular,
Noticing the basic impermanence inherent in all of it.
So let's begin with finding our posture.
Resting in awareness itself.
And I invite you to bring yourself into this space where there are no qualities.
No labels.
It's the tiny kernel that has always been who you are.
Free of markers,
Identities,
Or stories that we tell about who we are.
That piece of you that you've been in contact with ever since you were born.
And just notice how anything that arises changes.
We can't really grasp it or hold on to it.
So just allow yourself to enjoy the freedom of that.
This ever-changing kaleidoscope of everything there is to notice.
The core invitation today is to notice how nothing sticks around.
Always in flux.
So as I invite you to bring your attention to different aspects of your experience,
Just see how soft and subtle we can be in noticing those changes and the impossibility of holding on.
And then the freedom that comes with that.
Bring your attention to the body.
Into each sensation,
Feeling,
And thought.
Just see what shows up and sit with the question of what is there to hold on to.
Is there anything really permanent that can be held on to?
Do not bring your attention to the mind.
We go into thought loops.
Where you get fascinated by something and lose interest.
Comes and goes.
Just come back to awareness whenever you notice it.
We enter into our preconceptions of what we expect to see,
Feel,
Or think,
And we notice how often we're wrong.
There's probably a lot.
We notice how often we're surprised.
How much our predictions are now what we think is going to happen.
So we can ease up on that.
Be open to surprise.
Be okay with things not being what we think they're going to be.
Notice the ever-changing flow of what we are aware of and enjoy it.
And if it's not enjoyable,
At least take an interest in it.
We have labels and shapes preloaded and ready to go.
So when we experience something,
Whether a thought,
A sensation,
A smell,
Sight,
Anything,
We have something to call it.
And notice that seeking for solidity,
For something to cling onto in that action.
Just notice the senses,
Being awake.
Even if nothing stands out.
Notice that the sense is active.
See if you can even notice that subtle feeling of seeking.
And when the senses make contact with experience,
We have sensations.
That's something to notice.
But just notice that they are awake.
And then also notice when the senses do make contact with experience and we have a sensation.
Notice that moment to moment,
Each sensation is constantly shifting and changing.
And now when a sensation arises,
Whether physical or mental,
A feeling tone emerges.
We like it,
We don't.
We consider it to be pleasant,
Neutral,
Unpleasant,
Somewhere along that spectrum.
Just allow that feeling tone to emerge.
Without feeling any need to act.
And then notice when the feeling tone does lead to wanting to do something about it.
The flavor of sensation and feeling tone.
It doesn't just show up in static.
It changes.
There are different flavors to the feeling tones as these sensations keep moving and that energy leads to us wanting more or less.
And notice how we make the efforts to sustain that.
To keep that energy going.
And notice how the energy and efforts to sustain shift and change as well.
We're noticing how there's nothing static in our experience ever.
Notice how things become important to us,
How our actions and desires take on the charge of importance.
It's okay.
But notice how something can be important because it is important in that moment versus making something important simply because it's been that way before.
Consider how many things in our lives we've considered to be immensely important to us in the past,
But how that's shifted and changed.
Sometimes more or less,
Sometimes not at all.
And then those things we consider to be important become narratives.
We consider them to be true,
Whether or not they are.
And stories are beautiful.
We're here to just notice.
And discern whether or not they're real.
Just notice the mind's interest in finding somewhere to land.
After all,
It's a survival machine.
There's nothing wrong with it.
Just see how we're seeking that landing place,
But the only place to land is each and every moment.
Over and over again.
We see in this practice that impermanence is part of everything.
Everything changes.
We can't hold on to it.
It doesn't mean that we get nihilistic and think that nothing matters.
It's not what we're saying.
Just learning to lighten up.
Embrace beginner's mind and enjoy the ride.
Go ahead and take the next few minutes to transition out of formal practice.
But not out of mindfulness.
None of this is really of any use if we just do it here.
So when some of our old patterns come up in a conversation with friends or family,
Just see,
What am I trying to hold onto?
What is it that I'm expecting that's not happening?
What's the story that I'm trying to inject?
And really in so many ways how I'm making myself suffer.
Even in really small,
Subtle ways.
So I hope that in doing this practice we see how impermanence is simultaneously the vehicle that sets us free,
But for the mind that's seeking solidity and permanence is the vehicle of suffering.
Clear seeing is how we notice that there's nothing there to hold onto.
So I'd like to thank you for joining me in this series of practices.
May they be of benefit to you and everyone around you.
And one more time,
Let's end with one mindful breath,
Breathing in.
And out.
And thank you for joining me,
And thank you for your practice.
