Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome back.
Chapter 2: Why do we keep returning to meditation?
Perhaps one of the most important things to take into account in meditation practice is that we do this practice so as to see a transformation. We hope that the fruits of this practice will see us become more peaceful, more compassionate, more open, more present. But often we can find it difficult to measure these things.
Chapter 3: How do others notice our meditation progress?
Indeed, usually it's people around us that notice the transformation that occurs, even incrementally, ever before we do. And so meditation masters and teachers of every tradition warn us against trying to measure our own progress.
Chapter 4: What does it mean to practice meditation for a lifetime?
Instead, we must take the long view. that this is a practice we are taking on for life. There will be times when the practice is strong and times when it's weak.
Chapter 5: How can community support our meditation journey?
And this can be where it's important to have good teachers and even good communities around us. There's an old saying in the monastic tradition that sometimes I must lean on my brother's practice and sometimes he leans on mine. meaning that we support one another when we practice together.
If you like, and if you feel an absence of community, you can also think of all of the other people who are listening to these meditations.
Chapter 6: What is the significance of taking the long view in meditation?
In a way, you're sharing meditative community with them also. The gift of taking the long view, however, is a gift of freedom. It allows us to simply do our practice day in, day out, without worrying about anything, simply trusting the process to allow us change. And it also allows us to rest in the practice as well.
No striving, no looking for results, but simply trusting that in time, incrementally, the grace of the practice will change us
Chapter 7: How can we visualize growth in our meditation practice?
So today then, that is the intention we will make. Let's begin. Coming to the practice, we do so openly, without expectation, but simply trusting in the gift of presence awareness of the moment brings.
Sitting into our practice, we make our ritual gesture and hold the intention of the long view, recognizing that while our practice may not be perfect now, and indeed may never be perfect, the mere act of choosing to practice makes a difference. aware of our feet against the floor, our back against the chair. We allow the shoulders to drop, the hands to be supported on the lap.
We draw our attention slowly, gently, inexorably all the way to the breath. Touching in with the breath as that background music of our whole life. The anchor that connects us to the present moment. Aware of the breath, we come to the breath in freedom. Not looking for change or success, but simply to be present. allowing our awareness of the breath to bring us into stability, into peace.
Touching in with the rhythm of the breath now, we begin to notice where the in breath begins, where the out breath ends, where the out breath begins,
where the in-breath ends. Feeling now the rise and fall of the breath within our body.
The rise and fall of the diaphragm beneath the lungs, the expansion of the belly. Feeling our breath even in our bones. With each breath, the body expands. With each breath, the body retracts. Resting in the breath, trusting in the practice.
We can say inwardly, breathing in, I know I am breathing in. Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.
Breathing in, I am not striving for success. Breathing out, I simply practice.
Breathing in, I breathe in peace. Breathing out, I breathe out joy. All the while, breathing in and breathing out.
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