Have Tea With Your Emotions | Inspired By The Buddha

Let's begin by finding a comfortable position.

Allow your body to settle,

Your spine gently upright,

Your shoulders soft and your hands resting where they feel at ease.

If it feels right,

Let your eyes close or simply lower your gaze.

Take a slow,

Deep breath in and a long,

Gentle breath out.

Again,

Inhale and exhale.

This practice is inspired by a story from the time of the Buddha.

It is said that even after his great awakening,

Mara,

The force that represents fear,

Temptation,

Doubt,

And distraction would return to visit him.

But the Buddha did not resist or drive Mara away.

He simply said,

I see you,

Mara,

Come,

Let's have tea.

By offering tea,

The Buddha met his inner challenges,

Not with resistance,

But with awareness,

Curiosity and compassion.

In our lives,

Mara can visit us too.

As fear tightens the chest,

As anxiety that stirs restlessness,

As anger that burns,

As shame that sinks us,

As craving,

Self-doubt or loneliness.

Today we practice inviting these visitors in,

Offering them tea and seeing what they have to share.

Picture yourself now in a quiet,

Peaceful place,

Perhaps a small room,

A garden or beneath a tree.

In front of you,

A small table is set,

With two cups of tea steaming gently.

Feel the steadiness of this moment.

The warmth of the tea,

The invitation of presence.

And now your visitor arrives.

It might be fear or anxiety,

Anger,

Grief or another emotion that challenges you.

There's no need to force an image.

Simply sense who or what has come for tea today.

Take a slow breath in.

Invite this visitor to sit.

Offer them the tea.

What do you notice?

What is the expression on their face?

What energy do they bring?

And gently,

When you're ready,

You may ask,

What brings you here?

You might hear words,

Sense a feeling,

Or simply share the quiet together.

If it feels right,

You may ask,

What do you need from me right now?

There is nothing to fix.

No need to change what is.

You are simply offering tea,

Offering presence,

Offering space.

When it feels time,

Thank your visitor for coming.

Let them know the door is open for tea whenever they need to be seen or heard.

Take a deep breath in.

And a long breath out.

Feel the ground beneath you.

Feel your body supported.

Feel the steadiness that remains.

Wiggle your fingers and your toes.

And when you're ready,

Gently open your eyes.

This practice reminds us that we can meet our most difficult emotions with kindness and curiosity.

What did your visitor reveal to you today?

What surprised you?

How might you continue offering tea to these parts of yourself when they appear?

You may wish to churn all your reflections or simply rest with them in your heart.

Namaste.