She immersed herself in cold winter water,
Feeling the sting on her skin underneath the surface.
She finally sat with the discomfort after trying to wiggle her way out of it,
After running away,
After feeling angry for its presence and blaming it for disrupting her sense of peace.
She felt what it was like to be in this moment,
With all of it,
With all that felt heavy and easy,
With all that felt dark and light.
She noticed that suffering felt like resistance,
And her level of discomfort and suffering were related to her resistance towards what is,
Her resistance to the present moment.
So she stayed with what is instead of trying to change it,
And she sensed a sliver of peace and love that was steady and always there in every moment,
Before and now.
She witnessed her suffering and pain,
And other people's suffering and pain,
And pain.
But instead of trying to change it,
Fix it,
Or somehow try and make it better,
She decided to be with all of it,
Noticing there may be a gift in what she was trying to fix and push away.
Who am I to say how this should go?
Who am I to know what their experience should be like?
So instead of trying to change the direction of the flow,
The course of the water,
She stayed with it and breathed with it.
The cold water was her reminder.
The human body with its limitations to holding a space of discomfort,
And yet its capacity was a curiosity and a new discovery of hers.
She watched how her body helped her to feel this being human.
This being human,
Being in the body,
Is why she experienced discomfort at times,
Yes,
But it was also the vessel to support her in being.
So she stood at the water and asked for help in remembering.
Help me remember that my level of suffering is related to my resistance towards what is.
And through the water she heard,
Yes,
I offer you that medicine.
And this doesn't mean you will not feel any discomfort or pain again.
It only means you can be with this moment,
And this moment,
And again in this moment.
She dipped into the cold water and breathed in this moment,
And in this moment,
And in this moment.
I invite you to sit for a moment with me in any position that feels comfortable for you,
And gather all the attention you've had in other places,
Noticing it move inward.
As you inhale and notice your breath,
Bring that attention in.
And as you exhale,
Let it settle within you.
Inhaling,
Notice your in-breath.
Exhaling,
Notice your out-breath.
If your attention begins to move outward again,
Simply notice and bring it back to where you've gathered your attention within.
Can you meet what's arising within you in this moment?
Can you meet the feelings present for you in this moment,
And in this moment,
And again in this moment?
Being here with yourself as you are,
Being with life as it is offering itself to you.
Not life as if it were better,
Or as if you were better.
Without trying to fix anything,
Just bring your attention back to this moment,
To what is arising within you.
Do you notice anything arising within you that wants to flow on and move through?
Flow on and move through.
Flow on and move through.
Like water,
Let it flow through.
Be the observer.
That's all you have to do.
Like water,
Let it flow through.
Be the observer.
That's all you have to do.
Notice how you're exploring your capacity to be with all of it.
Holding what arises like the earth wraps a seed in the soil,
And in the way that the seed surrenders as it moves through darkness into light.
You notice yourself now in this moment,
Staying with the flow of your life.
I want to share with you a poem now that is called The Guesthouse by Rumi.
This being human is a guesthouse.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy,
A depression,
A meanness,
Some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all.
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture.
Still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought,
The shame,
The malice.
Meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.
So ending where we began,
On your next inhale bring your attention inward again.
And as you exhale let everything within you settle.
Everything you want to feel and everything you may have been pushing away.
Notice yourself here being with yourself as you are.
Being with life as it is offering itself to you.
This is the practice and I honor you for staying.
For your capacity.
Thank you for your presence.
Thank you for your attention to all of it.
Thank you for being human and feeling all of it in this moment and again in this moment and again in this moment.
May you be blessed.
