Welcome.
Welcome to this practice called Compassion with Equanimity.
Please find yourself a really comfortable position,
Whether you are sitting up or lying down.
A position where you feel your body can let go,
Be supported and held.
So if you'd like you can grab a blanket,
A shawl,
Maybe an extra pillow or cushion.
Whatever you feel like you may be needing in this moment.
And then whenever you're ready,
Gently giving yourself permission to close your eyes all the way or just softening your gaze in one particular spot.
Really bringing your awareness to the breath.
Bringing your awareness to the body breathing itself.
If it feels right,
You can even put a hand on the heart or the belly or perhaps putting a hand on another part of the body that feels soothing,
Supportive,
Grounding.
Taking a few deep,
Nourishing breaths and with each exhale,
Allowing your body to settle a little further into this moment.
And now I invite you to bring to mind someone that you may be caring for or someone that you are close to that may be exhausting you or frustrating you.
Someone who you care for that may be suffering but is also causing you some fatigue.
Perhaps being cautious not to choose a child if you're a parent,
But maybe choose somebody else that may be suffering that you may be helping to take care of or in a relationship with that causes you fatigue.
Visualizing this person clearly in your mind's eye.
Visualizing this caregiving situation as clearly as you can.
Perhaps when you visualize the situation,
You may notice some tension in your body.
Notice where the tension sits in your body.
You can even offer a gentle hand to soothe that part of the body to support that part of the body if it feels right.
As you continue to visualize this person and this situation clearly,
I'd like to invite you to carefully listen to the words of equanimity that I'm about to share and just letting them gently roll through your mind.
Everyone is on their own life journey.
I am not the cause of this person's suffering,
Nor is it entirely within my power to make it go away,
Even though I wish I could.
Moments like this are difficult to bear,
Yet I may still try to help if I can.
Fear of the stress now that you may be carrying in your body,
Getting in touch with the stress and taking a long,
Full inhale,
Inhaling compassion for yourself.
With each breath now,
Inhaling compassion for yourself.
Drawing compassion inside your body and filling every cell of your body with compassion.
Letting yourself be soothed by inhaling deeply and by giving yourself the compassion that you need.
And now,
As you exhale,
Sending out compassion to the person who is associated with your discomfort.
So once again,
As you exhale,
Sending out compassion to the person who is associated with your discomfort.
Continue breathing compassion in,
Breathing compassion out.
Allowing your body to gradually find a natural breathing rhythm.
Letting your body breathe itself.
If it feels right,
You can even use the words.
One for me.
One for you.
One for me.
One for you.
Or you can say in for me.
Out for you.
In for me.
Out for you.
Occasionally scanning your inner landscape for any distress and responding by inhaling compassion for yourself,
Exhaling compassion for others.
If you find that anyone needs extra compassion,
Directing your breath in that direction,
Giving that extra compassion,
Whether it's for yourself or the other.
Realizing now how your body is caressed from the inside as you breathe.
Caressed from the inside.
Letting yourself float on an ocean of compassion.
A limitless ocean that embraces all suffering.
A limitless boundless ocean of compassion.
And now once again,
Listening to the words of equanimity that I will repeat.
Everyone is on their own life journey.
I am not the cause of this person's suffering,
Nor is it entirely within my power to make it go away.
Even though I wish I could.
Moments like this are difficult to bear.
Yet I may still try to help if I can.
I'm going to repeat these words just one more time.
Opening yourself up,
Letting yourself receive the words.
Everyone is on their own life journey.
I am not the cause of this person's suffering,
Nor is it entirely within my power to make it go away.
Even though I wish I could.
Moments like this are difficult to bear.
Yet I may still try to help if I can.
And now gently letting go of this practice.
Allowing yourself to be exactly as you are in this moment.
Perhaps just sitting with a breath.
And whenever you're ready,
If your eyes were closed,
Gently opening your eyes again.
