Thank you! This practice helped me separate from hyper focusing on my breath, and it also helped me experience being present in a way that blended my inner experience with my awareness of the surroundings, without trying to stifle one for the other! I felt held, or contained in a very calm and immediate way in the moment. And then the next moment…and the next!
Thank you Jeff, Tasha, and Rebecca. I have several somewhat random (or maybe not) reflections after this practice. I think there have been days when my practice has mirrored Silent Illumination although at the time I would have labeled it as an unfocused(!) sitting. After sitting this evening, first I realized that allowing for a slow, extended relaxation of the body is crucial and that focusing on my breath is distinct from fully relaxing my body. And also understanding that releasing the tension in the body is the gateway, not the goal. Over the past 7-8 months of listening to your meditations on HomeBase and elsewhere, I'm also beginning to experience a vague sense that, at least occasionally, I am truly at ease moment by moment. I'm thinking of various phrases that have been helpful -- welcome (to whatever it is that shows up), can you let this be enough, here for this moment...... Something has started to shift when I sit, and from time to time when I bring the lessons from sitting into the rest of my day. With gratitude.
Jeff and Tasha, this was AMAZING. Rebecca was absolutely fascinating and I can’t wait to watch this again!
Thank you! This practice helped me separate from hyper focusing on my breath, and it also helped me experience being present in a way that blended my inner experience with my awareness of the surroundings, without trying to stifle one for the other! I felt held, or contained in a very calm and immediate way in the moment. And then the next moment…and the next!
Thank you Jeff, Tasha, and Rebecca. I have several somewhat random (or maybe not) reflections after this practice. I think there have been days when my practice has mirrored Silent Illumination although at the time I would have labeled it as an unfocused(!) sitting. After sitting this evening, first I realized that allowing for a slow, extended relaxation of the body is crucial and that focusing on my breath is distinct from fully relaxing my body. And also understanding that releasing the tension in the body is the gateway, not the goal. Over the past 7-8 months of listening to your meditations on HomeBase and elsewhere, I'm also beginning to experience a vague sense that, at least occasionally, I am truly at ease moment by moment. I'm thinking of various phrases that have been helpful -- welcome (to whatever it is that shows up), can you let this be enough, here for this moment...... Something has started to shift when I sit, and from time to time when I bring the lessons from sitting into the rest of my day. With gratitude.