Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris - 438: How to Stay Calm Without Being Passive | Bonus Meditation with Roshi Joan Halifax

Episode Date: April 15, 2022

Returning to the practice of equanimity keeps you both grounded and receptive, especially during times of turmoil and uncertainty.About Roshi Joan Halifax:Roshi Joan Halifax is a Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, anthropologist, and pioneer in the field of end-of-life care. She is also the Founder, Abbot, and Head teacher of Upaya Institute and Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her books include Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet, and The Fruitful Darkness: A Journey Through Buddhist Practice and Tribal Wisdom. To find this meditation in the Ten Percent Happier app, you can search for “Strong Back, Soft Front,” or click here: https://10percenthappier.app.link/content?meditation=4cfcfe2d-f5fb-4142-9bd0-3fb6b2041324.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it even mean to live a good life? Is it about happiness, purpose, love, health, or wealth? What really matters in the pursuit of a life well lived? These are the questions award-winning author, founder, and interviewer Jonathan Fields asks his guests on the Top Ranked Good Life Project podcast. Every week, Jonathan sits down with world renowned thinkers and doers, people like Glenn and Doyle, Adam Grant,

Young Pueblo, Jonathan Height, and hundreds more. Start listening right now. Look for the Good Life Project on your favorite podcast app. This is the 10% happier podcast. I'm Dan Harris. Hey team, happy Friday. It's bonus meditation time. Today we're training the skill of equanimity, which you can describe as being balanced in the face of whatever comes up. As you're going to hear from our teacher, Doosior, this is not to be confused with being passive or becoming a doormat. Rochijone Halifax is a Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, anthropologist, and pioneer in the field

of end of life care. She's also the founder, Abbott, and head teacher of the Upaia Institute and Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her books include Standing at the Edge and the Fruitful Darkness. Over to you, Rochie Jone. Welcome. I'm Joan Halifax. Now is an important time for us to be grounded and to cultivate equanimity.

Equanimity is not bypassing or ignoring the challenges we're facing. Actually, it means keeping a broad perspective and a clear mind when it comes to what is going on in the world at this time. And hopefully, we act in a way that is highly principled. I'm going to share with you a meditation practice that I hope will nourish that sensibility in you. So let's get started. Take a few moments to get settled on your seat,

whether you're on a cushion or a chair. And if you wish, allow your eyes to close gently. And notice the sensation of your body sitting. Since the support of your seat, and allow yourself to relax into it, Now gently shift your attention to your spine. Sense your spine without evaluating or judging. Your back is a physical metaphor that points toward your natural capacity to uphold yourself in the midst of difficulties, to be present for whatever is happening in any given moment. Now breathe into your back a sense of energy and breathe And breathe out any tension. You can remind yourself of the value of equanimity by silently saying, strong back. Now gently and firmly, shift your attention to your chest.

Since that tender open space in the center of your chest, rest in this openness. And notice if there is a sense of warmth or care there. Care that you could extend to others. Or compassion for suffering in the world. And notice the sensations in the body and in the heart. Strong, back, soft front, equanimity and compassion. These two qualities are two sides of the same coin. Strong back, soft front. Please remind yourself often to bring the spirit of this practice into your everyday life. life. Now if your eyes have been closed, you can open them up and include the world in this moment. And may this practice that we've shared truly be a benefit to others. Thank you.

Thank you, Rochie Joan. We'll be back here on Monday for a brand new episode. We're going to be talking about something you may have just experienced while meditating. The fact that our minds are eminently distractable. There's a new book out about how to reclaim your focus from the fascinating and quick charismatic author, Johann Hari. So we'll talk to him coming up on Monday. [♪ OUTRO MUSIC PLAYING [♪ Hey, hey, prime members. You can listen to 10% happier early and ad-free

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