Tara Brach - Reflection: Learning to Stay

Episode Date: September 27, 2018

Brief Reflection: Learning to Stay - We open the door to healing by bringing a mindful and kind attention to inner vulnerability and fear. "Learning to stay opens up the space that gives us our life. That's when it becomes real with our inner life… with others. So we'll do a brief reflection on this."

The following reflection is led by Tara Brock. To access more of my meditations or reflections or to join my email list, please visit tarabrock.com. Learning to stay opens up the space that gives us our life. That's when it becomes real with our inner life, with others. So we'll just do a brief reflection on this. So closing your eyes and we'll just take a pause together and just notice what's right to do.

here. What is happening inside me right now? That question. And can I let it be? Can I let it be just as it is? One sage asks, what have we been unwilling to feel? You might sense just scan your life a little and sense what's going on that you've been in some way not wanting to feel with vulnerability, what fear, what sorrow. For these moments, let your intention be just to stay a bit, to offer that attention that can truly transform. It might deepen your attention a little feel where whatever might be vulnerable, might be scared, might be sad, is living in your body. And just for these few moments, offer a genuinely kind attention.

And that means that if you'd like to also offer a gesture, for a gesture of kindness. That can be a really powerful part of staying, just simply putting your hand on your heart or your cheek, two hands on your heart, so that you're really communicating inwardly, I'm here right now, I'm here, I'm attending, I'm with you. Notice what changes in just a few moments of offering attention

to something that you might have virtually pull away from. Rumi says, keep your gaze on the wounded place. This is where the light enters, sensing what happens as you offer your presence, and perhaps noticing more of what I sometimes call heart space, that you're resting in a more open, tender awareness. This is the first pathway. Learning to stay begins to open us,

to our secret beauty, to that tenderness, that compassion. Or as Tom Smurton says, to the divine that shines through. As you'd like, you can relax your hands down if your hands have been on your heart and open your eyes if you'd like.