Hello,
This is Param Abandhu.
Welcome to day 19,
Meditating on the breath and seeing the nature of thoughts.
Today's music has been composed by the Alaska non.
Often our thoughts are sticky and we get caught up in them even when they are unhelpful.
We can work with the thoughts that we get caught up in by learning to step out of them.
Each time you notice that your mind has got caught up in thinking,
You can notice what you are thinking about and say to yourself,
I am thinking about whatever it is you are thinking about.
Or I notice that I'm thinking about whatever it is that you are thinking about.
More profoundly,
We can reflect on the nature of thoughts.
Thoughts are mental processes that come and go.
They are not themselves the reality that they seem to point to.
That's why we sometimes say thoughts are not facts.
Our thoughts are one thing and what they describe or refer to,
Whether real or imagined,
Is something else.
Often the thoughts that we get caught up in are about something that hasn't happened or isn't true.
But even if what the thoughts are referring to is true,
Right now what is happening is just thoughts,
Mental processes that if we wish we can let go of.
Thoughts are not facts.
Begin today's meditation by noticing that you are breathing,
Feeling the breath moving in and out of your body.
Not trying to control the breath in any way,
Just noticing it as it is.
Each time you notice that you've got caught up in your thoughts,
Practice stepping out of them,
Saying to yourself,
I'm thinking about whatever it is you are thinking about.
Or I notice that I'm thinking about whatever it is that you are thinking about.
Or just noting that your thoughts are not facts.
Your thoughts are not you.
You are more than your thoughts.
Then each time coming back again gently and with kindness to the breath,
Allowing your attention to rest on the breath,
Moving in and out of the body.
Nandu,
Wishing you a day of wisdom,
Wishing you to recognise the true nature of your thoughts.
