In this meditation, we practice opening to the felt energy in the body, below the storylines of what’s happening, to anchor, open to compassion and anchor back in the refuge of the breath.

In Buddhist psychology, ethical conduct is clearly understood as the path out of suffering, a gift for both for ourselves and others.  In this sharing, I explore Wise Speech and its relationship to this gift of freedom.

Wise Speech is a practice that supports all of our relationships.  We strengthen the foundation for this practice in our meditation by paying attention to our internal speech patterns going on all the time and noticing the possibility of bringing a compassionate wise response and care to this internal talk– instead of just buying into everything the inner voice says.  One note– I had an active cat in part of the meditation. Please forgive the background sounds I wasn’t able to edit out…  Thank you.

Today we explore the understanding of “not-self” that opens a natural doorway to compassion.  We end with the poem from Thich Nhat Hanh, Please Call Me by my True Names.

In this practice, we explore a samadhi, or concentration practice, using the breath as the object of focus.

Samadhi practice, sometimes translated as concentration practice, has been described as a gathering or unifying of the mind.  When cultivated, this kind of practice can bring a deep settling to the mind that is useful in all aspects of life.

Sowing the seed, my hand is one with the earth.

Wanting the seed to grow, my mid is one with the light.

Hoeing the crop, my hands are one with the rain.

Hungry and trusting, my mind is one with the earth.

Eating the fruit, my body is one with the earth.

-Wendall Berry

A wandering holy man is asked what his work in life is.  He replies, “I’m a farmer… This body of mine is my field.  I sow good thoughts and actions, and in my body I reap the results.”  

In this practice, we start with a short body scan and then move into the breath as an anchor that can “teach us how to be interested in the present moment and how to develop persistence in staying connected to the present moment.” (Mark Nunberg)

Today we explore how simple bare attention of mindfulness to breath helps us gain wisdom into the nature of reality– in particular, wisdom of impermanence.

In this meditation we explore opening with a bare, non-judgmental attention to the present moment just as it is, whether in settling into an anchor or bringing a compassionate wise acknowledgment to distraction