Living

We are just trying to figure it out.

If you don't try giving something up, you might not know its true value in your life.

If you don't let go and take a look at your pain/tightness/discomfort you might not know true happiness.

Meditation, is a time to be still so that your thought patterns can emerge without the distraction of movement in the body, or grasping of the senses which pull your mind in all sorts of directions. When you sit, even for 1 minute, you begin to notice the static of your mind. You begin to notice the chatter, the movie reel, the constant movement of the mind. Do not be afraid of all the noise.

Without fear, without judgment, without pride, try to sit and become non-reactionary to your thoughts. Befriend what appears. Become intimate with all that arises. Try not to push the thoughts away. No clamping down. No time outs. Just noticing.

And then, without any force or negation of your thoughts, bring your awareness from the movie reel, the chatter, the illusions of the mind's thoughts and place your focus on your breath. You do not have to make anything happen.

As soon as you are back with your breath, notice what happens. A simple shift of concentration onto the breath, away from the monkey mind. Just notice.

Do this exercise over and over again.

This is meditation.

Reflect. Be patient. Be kind. Be compassionate. Be receptive.

--Charry