Hello and Namaste.
Today we'll be doing a contemplative meditation focused on the ancient Taoist principle,
Wu-wei,
The art of non-forcing.
To embrace wu-wei is to live in a state of alignment with the flow of life,
Without force or struggle.
Think of wu-wei as the knowledge of the tides of life,
A principle that calls us to let go of the desires to control everything.
To begin,
Find a quiet and comfortable place to sit or lie down.
Close your eyes and bring your attention to the sensations of your breath.
The rise and fall of your breath is a physical reminder of the flow of life that moves within you and all around you.
We'll begin with the sound of the bells.
Take a slow,
Gentle inhale through the nose,
Resting your attention on the sensation of the air passing through your nostrils,
Filling your chest,
Filling your abdomen.
Now notice as the inhale ends and shifts into a slow exhale,
Releasing the air,
Emptying the abdomen and the chest.
Rest for a moment and begin again,
Long,
Slow inhale,
Feeling the texture of the air entering your body,
And long,
Slow exhale,
Noticing the sensations of the air leaving your body.
Once again,
Noticing,
Inhale,
Noticing,
Exhale.
Now bring your attention to the sensations of the body.
Feel your heart beating.
Feel your chest rising and falling.
Feel the cool air entering and exiting your nose.
This is life flowing through you.
Now feel earth beneath you supporting your body.
Melt into that security.
Remain aware as your body relaxes and allow your thoughts and sensations to be just as they are.
In this state,
Allow yourself to simply be,
Without any goals or expectations.
I'm now going to read a short excerpt on wu-wei,
And you then have the rest of the time to contemplate on it.
As I read,
Listen,
And notice,
What else is coming up for you?
What arises spontaneously?
What memories,
Thoughts,
Or connections come up freely?
The point of contemplation is to allow yourself to mix with this concept until it distills into something meaningful for you.
That's how we deepen our understanding of these teachings.
Today's excerpt is,
Wu-wei is the art of sailing rather than rowing.
It is better to accept the wind and sail with it than to forcibly keep rowing into our grave.
I'll repeat it once more.
Wu-wei is the art of sailing rather than rowing.
It is better to accept the wind and sail with it than to forcibly keep rowing into our grave.
Take this thought and chew on it.
Let it become a personal experience for you.
I'll check back in a few minutes.
Gently bring yourself back into this room,
Back into this body.
Take a few deep breaths here.
Bring some movement back into your fingers.
Maybe wiggle your toes.
Roll out your wrists in both directions.
Now slowly open your eyes and gently return to your surroundings,
Not losing sight of that breath.
Spend a few moments here reflecting on what came up for you today.
What thoughts,
Memories,
Or ideas came to you as you were contemplating on Wu-wei?
You might also want to journal down some of these insights to continue your contemplations today,
Tomorrow,
Maybe the rest of the week or the rest of the year.
It's up to you.
We'll end today's practice with a mantra,
A mantra that you can attach to the understanding of Wu-wei and keep close.
The mantra is,
I let go of control and trust in the natural order of things.
I am open to the flow of life.
I let go of control and trust in the natural order of things.
I am open to the flow of life.
Take a moment to repeat this out loud or quietly to yourself.
Today you've cultivated your own personal experiences and feelings with the concept of Wu-wei.
Use this mantra to return to that deep knowing,
That deep understanding of the flow of life.
Besides,
Why drown in the waves when we can learn how to surf them?
Namaste.
