Dear Choose Happy Community,

When the world feels overwhelming—filled with anger, fear, or harmful words—this teaching reminds us of our deeper task. Like the river, we are invited to become vast in our goodwill, steady beneath the surface no matter what storms arise. The fire may exist, but we are not the fire. We can choose to go deeper, to respond with clarity, peace, and love that radiates outward. Nothing outside of you has to shake the peace within.

Here’s one of our favorite quotes from the video:

“ This is our task: to fill ourselves with goodwill and to be like the river so that we are deep and enormous in our goodwill. And the fire, like the Buddha is not saying that the fire is not there, he’s acknowledging it’s there, but he’s saying you are deeper than the fire. And so go deeper than the fire.

“And anything that you see in time and space is just an opportunity to go deeper, always. And then what happens is you become imbued with this goodwill so that nothing can shake you. No matter what it is that you observe or experience in time and space.

“The Buddha goes farther. So that was about if you see people who are lying, people who are using words to create hatred. People who are using words to create fear. People who are using words to create harm. This is what he says: stay with goodwill. Be deep and immeasurable like the river in your goodwill. Extend goodwill even to the people who are saying that. Even to the people who are doing that. And then allow goodwill to radiate forth through you to benefit the entire world.”

We also shared this video on YouTube, but wanted you to be able to have it on your Substack video player as well, in case you prefer that.

Having it on Substack makes it easy for you to see any other podcasts, videos, articles, or full meditation services that might be available in the Open to Clarity and Peace by clicking here.

If you have heard this teaching before, we invite you — as Swami so often invites us — to hear it as if you are hearing it for the first time. Often we receive these teachings right when we need them.

In loving service,Awake Yoga Meditation

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