OPEN MIND

I have been thinking about the meditation session for my neighborhood group this evening. The turmoil and confusion in which we find ourselves in the external world tend to get easily assimilated by the mind, and I have been contemplating the need to keep it swept free of the clouds and cobwebs that will soon take up the entire space of the mind if we allow them.

A possible path for meditation, then: begin with a few extended breaths, drawn in to the entire body and exhaled with clarifying intention--an intention that can be maintained through the practice of goodwill, breathing thoughts of compassion for oneself, for those close to one's heart, for those known and liked and those disliked, extending outward to all people... and all living beings. 

From here, move on to the body-mind, with the attention to each area focused on awakening the mind there, the sharpening and deepening of consciousness. Work, as usual, from the area around the navel to the lower belly, the upper belly, the solar plexus, extending out to the flank on either side; the chest, with special attention to an awareness of the heart as an organ of the mind as well as of the body; from the base of the neck to the center of the head; from the back of the neck down either arm; and down the length of the spine, extending out to the length and breadth of the back; and from the tail bone down the length of legs...

Now spend some time using the breath to experience the presence of mind throughout the entire, awakened body... and, when that awareness feels complete, allow it to expand beyond the confines of the body into the immediately surrounding area. Try emptying the mind even as you allow it gradually to open: no thoughts, no judgments, no anxieties, no anticipations... And no physical sensations: no touch, no weight, no gravity... Just slowly expanding awareness.

As you become comfortable with the presence of mind in the space that immediately surrounds the body, allow it to expand still further to include the room where you are sitting, the building that contains the room... the neighborhood... expanding ever further, slowly, breath by breath, to include the mountains to the east and the ocean to the west... ever further... until the mind embraces the whole Earth below, the sky above...

Bring the mind to rest in the spaciousness of a clear sky, no clouds, no obstacles, no boundaries, just pure space.  Allow everything else to fall away, and rest in attention to pure space, pure breath...  If the mind chooses to get sleepy or distracted, use the breath to reinvigorate it and renew attention...

Before leaving meditation, Take a moment to reawaken and re-clarify the mind and return to a comfortable awareness of the body... Tell yourself, may I be happy, may I be guided by the knowledge of the source of true happiness... and dedicate any benefit from your meditation to other living beings... May all living beings find true happiness in their hearts.

And as you leave meditation, and after, remember to bring the experience of open mind into your life.