No Hands: February 1 - 7

I love cycling. There's nothing better than working hard to pedal uphill and then just let go. Momentum carries me forward and there's nothing left to do but enjoy the ride. There's a sweet spot when there's no more doing but simply being in the moment. The same thing can happen in meditation.

If you've been keeping up with me these past few weeks, you'll recall we've been building our mindfulness practice step by step. We've carved out time and found a quiet place. We've set an intention and noticed our thoughts as they come and go. We've followed the breath. We've strengthened our mindfulness muscles. Here's this week's lesson - at some point, we simply let go. No need to keep paying attention to the breath. No need to keep track of the thoughts. Allow the breath and the thoughts to fade into the background. No more doing. No more effort. Let go of the handlebars. Enjoy the ride.

This is my favorite moment in meditation. Some mornings I'm better at letting go than others. It's not that my thoughts ever stop but rather I find a peaceful place beyond my thoughts. The world keeps on spinning, but I remain centered and balanced. Loving kindness already abides in my heart. It's not so much that I arrive someplace but it's more like I remember who I've always been. When I'm fortunate enough to find myself in this sweet spot, there's nothing more to do, there's no place else to be.

Practice

Let's meditate together. Maybe think of meditation like a magic carpet ride. Find your seat as you've done week after week. Tune into the breath as a way to shift your attention from whatever you've been doing. Place your hand on your heart as a way to focus inward. Close your eyes so as to see your inner landscape better. Take in the view.

Continue to follow the coming and going of the breath. Imagine floating on the breath, relaxing more and more completely with each exhale. Watch your thoughts appear and disappear like clouds drifting through a spacious sky. Allow the magic carpet to take you to the place you most need to be today. Be open to new vistas.

At some point, close your inner eyes and lay back. Let go of the breath. Let go of the clouds. Trust. There is nothing to do. There is nothing to fix. There is nothing to change. Light always surrounds and holds you. Life always surrounds and holds you. Love always surrounds and holds you. Simply be. Enjoy the ride.

Eventually the magic carpet brings you back to where you started this journey. Take a moment to reconnect with the seat beneath you. Bring movement back into the fingers and toes. Pay attention to the next few breaths. But stay with light, life, and love. Carry them with you into the rest of the day.​​