Calm Abiding 10: Direct Experience of the Present Moment

Verse 16

The waves of subtle and coarse thoughts return to their source.
Undisturbed, the river of mind flows naturally.
Free from the contaminations of dullness and torpor,
May the still ocean of calm abiding be dependable.

Instructions

Connect to the instructions by abiding in the silent minutes of the recording. 

Meditation

  • With a relaxed and resting mind, open to all experience around you and within you.
  • Pay attention to your breath if you find your mind is not calm. When you are aware of a calm mind, return to being open to all experience around you and within you. 
  • Experience fully this present moment, free of thinking about what is being experienced. 
  • Is there a knowing that experience is taking place, free of you having to engage with experience? 
  • Allow the mind to rest calmly and easily with all experience.
  • Rest your mind with all that appears to the mind. 
  • Rest in the direct experience of the present moment free of controlling, manipulating, fixating, evaluating, or fabricating any experience. 
  • Let the mind rest free and easy.

After Meditation

  • Were you free of judging? 
  • Were you able to be at ease with the meditation? 
  • Were you able to directly experience the present moment? While resting in the present moment did you notice if the mind had a tendency to reach out to solidify thoughts and sensations experienced in the present? 
  • What happens to the experience when you label it? 
  • Does labeling an appearance make it appear more solid and real or less solid and real? 
  • Were you able to rest the mind without grasping at an experience? 
  • Were you able to connect with the impermanence of the present moment? 
  • In what ways do you try to make thoughts or experiences solid and real?

During the Day

Remain gentle with what you are experiencing in life so you develop the capacity to not react strongly to events. When a strong reaction occurs try applying an action of calming the mind and allowing yourself to be present with the experience. What happens?