Aware of Body | Calm the Body

10 Being Natural and Easy Flowing

🎶 In this episode, we explore the heart of self-intimacy: "How comfortable can I be with myself during meditation?" We dive into the profound realization that mindfulness is always mindful of something, whether that "something" is a peaceful breath or a mind full of racing thoughts. You’ll discover the art of Gentle Listening, learning how to celebrate your awareness of anxiety or distraction as an opportunity to offer your mind a loving space to "vent" and release tension. The episode culminates in a beautiful, organic experience with Brother Phap Linh, who demonstrates how to maintain this deep internal conversation while interacting with the world—using his cello to engage in a mindful dialogue with birdsong—inviting you to be inquisitive, playful, and ultimately, at home with yourself.

  𑽇   Transcript    𑽇 

How comfortable can I be with myself during meditation?

Objective: To be aware and experience the meditative conversation with Brother Phap Linh.

How Do We Get There?

• • Discourse on the Full Awareness of Breathing

Steps 1. and 2.   In - Out *1

Steps 3. and 4.    Whole Body - Calm *1

• • Mindfulness, Concentration and Insight*

  • Be Kind. Be Gentle. Be Loving.

  • Being naturally inquisitive with yourself.  Explore!

Greeting New People

 Hello and welcome.

Sangha Sharing

What joy, insights, wonderment, questions and moments would you like to share?

Dharma Talk

"Mindfulness is Always Mindful of Something"  

Thay declares this statement in the first sentence of Our True Nature.  I encourage you to spend much time reflecting deeply on this one sentence.   Mindfulness is always mindful of something.  Maybe over the next few days, hold this thought in your awareness as you grocery shop, do your homework, walk to where you're going, while you're waiting, after you've ended a conversation, while you're brushing your teeth, as you are living life.  Bring it momentarily to your attention, "Mindfulness is always mindful of something.", and rest with it for a breath or two.  Then with gentleness, simply listen.

Gently Listening

Listening is the other half of the conversation with Insight.  So much of meditating, so much of living mindfully is gentle listening.  

When you gently listen, you are aware of the "something" you are holding within your mindfulness.  

Maybe you are aware of so many thoughts about a problem you are having.  As you become more aware that you can't stop thinking about this problem, you notice your anxiety growing.  

This is NOT how you planned to spend this moment.  Maybe you planned to be sitting down and begin mindfully breathing just so you can get a break from the pressure.  Maybe you worked on the problem all day and have a really good plan for the following day, yet, why is it so prevalent in my thoughts right now? 

First off, celebrate that you are being mindful.  You are aware of the moment and these thoughts.  

Our minds are like our bodies after we've worked them so hard.  Our bodies can feel tense, sore and tight even after a hot shower.  Our bodies need time to recover and so does our minds.  Being mindful, you can mindfully become aware of your breathing and your mind's unwinding thoughts.  With gentleness, mindfully give your thoughts and ear to vent to your mindful breathing.  Once your mind has expressed what it needs to, you'll be able to move forward into a more peaceful meditation.  This is a deeply loveing act you can offer your mind.  "Oh my mind.  I am here for you.  I will listen while you vent and release your tensions."  If you stay grounded in your breath while you listen you won't go down the rabbit hole.  If you do, know you are now being mindful of "something" that brings you back to peace.

Beautiful Intimacy

Meditation is the most imitate conversation you can have with yourself.  It's also a most joyful, peaceful, kind, gentle and loving conversation.  The conversation can be many things but most of all, it's a relationship with  yourself so you can suffer less, be more joyful and peaceful while discovering who you are.  So naturally, everyone's conversation will be a little different.  As you spend time mindfully listening and lovingly responding to your insights, that conversation will grow in richness.

Let's Explore with Curiosity

In this meditation, Brother Phap Linh invites us into his intrapersonal conversation to mindfully calm his breathing, body and mind.  He then listens to the life's wonders around him and responds/interacts with the birds playing his cello.  

If you haven't mindfully walked or have been mindful while you have done anything, this can be intimidating.  How can I do and be mindful at the same time?!  Be kind, be gentle and be loving with yourself.  As you begin, let it be lovely experience.  It will be a very organic experience.  Yes your mind will move around.  Realize it needs to do so you don't trip.  Simply take the next step and listen to the step and your breathing and presto, you are back within mindfulness.  Let the two experiences melt together.   As you do, Insight will pop up and say, "Hello". 

I don't know of Bro Phap Linh's experience during this recording but maybe Insight came to him while playing.  Maybe Bro Phap Linh wanted to experience the peace and joy of gently listening.  Or maybe it was as Thay speaks about in the video, No birth - No Death. he realized he was playing cello to himself while he chirped melodies back to himself.  He rested in being mindful of the life he and everything around him is.

While mindfully listening, become aware of how it feels to move through the experience with Brother Phap Linh's invitations.  Know he is staying grounded in his breath, in his listening, in his playing.  All those events are happening in the moment; hence, he is being and interacting mindfully.

Don't think about what is happening and the words he uses but be in the experience of his words.  He will guide you through In - Out | Aware of Body - Calm Body.  As you mindfully listen and concentrate on the experience, let insight come to you.  

A Mediation with Broth Phap Linh

Nightingales with Brother Phap Linh (on Cello) and friends | Guided meditation with birdsong & music, 48 mins

Collective observations and reflections

Gently stop the meditation after 20 minutes with the Plum Village app's Mediation Timer.  Or...enjoy the whole ride with the cello and the birds. : )

We share and listen.