Brother Richard

Breathing out, I know that one day an out-breath will be my last.

Breathing in, I choose to live life as fully and deeply as possible.

Breathing out, I choose to leave love and compassion behind me.

Gently then, aware of the life within us,

aware of the gift we have received, aware of the gift that we can still share with one another.

We begin to move our fingers and our toes.

We stretch a little, and we allow the sound of the bell to draw us into the rest of the day.

Thank you.

Welcome back.

In today's meditation, we're going to continue to look at the way in which the meditative tradition describes the different parts of the soul, that essential part of ourselves.

Previously, we looked at the so-called vegetative part, the part that is simply about survival, existence.

Now we move on to the part that is known as the animal soul.

This is the part that, while also having a survival element, is driven above all else by desire.

Some of these desires are positive.

Some of them are negative.

But all of them exist, and we have to be aware of them.

so as to enter into deeper contemplative equanimity and stability.

So let's begin.

Entering into this time of meditation, we take a moment to let go of all that has been before today.

Whatever stresses or strains, anxieties or pressures were with us this day, for now, just for now, we let them go.