Brother Richard

noticing without judgment or censorship, simply watching the thoughts and the emotions as they go by.

And as we do so from the position of observer, we can say inwardly to ourselves, I have thoughts and emotions, but I am more than my thoughts and emotions.

I have thoughts and emotions, but I am more than my thoughts and emotions.

And gently then we begin to follow the breath to the very center of our being, to that place of perfect peace and perfect light and perfect warmth.

to the place of absolutely centered stillness that exists between the in-breath and the out-breath, between the out-breath and the in-breath.

And resting in that place, we can say to ourselves, I am I, a center of pure consciousness and will,

a human being created in love and held in being by divine love.

And I choose now to meditate for myself and for all who are in need, all the while just breathing in and breathing out.

Resting in the breath, resting at the center of the cycle of breath, resting in the stability of the body, resting in the present moment.

And gently then, we begin to focus on the sensations of the body once more.

We might take a moment to just check in with the sensations of the clothing that holds around us.

Perhaps the connection between our hands and our lap.

And then gently and quietly, we begin to move fingers and toes.

We take a moment to make the intention to bring this peace into the rest of the day.

and we allow the sound of the bell to draw us back to today's activity.

Thank you.

Welcome back.

In today's meditation, we're going to begin a regular series.

This series invites us to deepen what is known in the tradition as metanoia.

Metanoia is a Greek word that means a turning around, a going beyond the thinking mind, a turning into the way of peace or truth.