So finding a posture that's supportive for you right now,
Today,
Could be sitting up straight,
Could be leaning back.
It's really whatever you need right now,
Bringing the awareness to the body.
Just checking in,
Asking,
How am I right now?
How is it?
Bringing the attention to the breath or to the sound in your environment and offering yourself a rest from thinking,
From worrying,
From concern.
And if it's useful,
Dropping in this inquiry,
This koan,
This riddle,
Am I going to practice peace or am I going to war?
If it's useful,
Practicing with that inquiry,
Even in relationship to whatever is arising in your practice,
Seeing if it's possible to bring peace to each moment,
To each breath,
To each thought,
To each emotion that arises,
Seeing if a peaceful,
The intention to cultivate a peaceful response to each breath,
To each thought,
To each emotion,
Seeing if that is onward leading,
Leads to peace in the next moment.
And working on the subtle level of relating to those moments when peace is not present.
Am I going to practice peace?
Can I notice that peace is not present or am I going to war with myself?
Can I practice peace with my own disputatious mind?
Am I going to practice peace or am I going to war?