This is an AI-generated transcript from auto-generated subtitles for the video above. It likely contains inaccuracies, especially with speaker attribution if there are multiple speakers.

Guided Meditation: This Too

Good day. Here we are. You are in your place, and it's always very significant for meditation—here, the place you are—because mindfulness meditation has a lot to do with really being here for the experience of this place and this time. Especially when we close our eyes, "here" becomes this body. "Here" becomes this body and mind. "Here" becomes the center of gravity, the place where water flows downhill into a wonderful lake at the bottom. Here is the place we practice.

One of the important capacities or potentials of this meditation practice is the unification of the mind. The word samadhi^[1] could equally well be translated not as concentration, but as unification—gathering together, becoming whole here in this experience. It cannot become whole if we live divided, if we live in opposition to things. A big part of meditation is overcoming the oppositional mind. It doesn't mean that we condone everything or even accept everything, but there's a way in which awareness holds everything. There's a way in which all our capacities for awareness center themselves here together, so everything is included in our experience. Everything is included in awareness.

One of the phrases that represents this kind of practice—a phrase you can use to remember or wake up in a certain way—is "this too." "This too is included." This unification we're talking about (in relation to ethics this week) is also a process of reconciliation. We're reconciling all the disparate parts of who we are so they all can be held together.

With the breathing—or whatever your meditation object is, though my reference point for what I teach is the breathing—keep in mind that we're trying to reconcile everything or unify everything, not to make more division or opposition. When the mind wanders off into thought, or we get involved in thinking that maybe is a little bit unfortunate or painful, or we're feeling some memory or idea, the idea is not to set up an oppositional relationship to it (like, "Oh no, this is bad, I'm bad, this is wrong, they shouldn't be"). Rather, the attitude is, "Oh, this too now needs to be brought in and held together." Have a reconciliation; become whole by including this, not by excluding it.

In this microcosm of practice that we're emphasizing this week, when the mind wanders off, you might have this little thought, "this too." If something happens that you think is unfortunate, or shouldn't be happening, or it's not what you think you're supposed to do, turn it around and say, "this too." Being open to "this too" doesn't mean you give in to it. It means being open with the idea that the important thing is not this thing that's happening, but moving towards a settled sense of wholeness, unification, and reconciliation.

Perhaps after saying "this too" to whatever distracted you, you can then say "this too" to the breathing. With the settling on the breath, let whatever you were doing in your mind that distracted you become involved in breathing. If you're thinking a lot about something else, recognize, "This too. You're thinking. This too." Then think about the breathing, feel the breathing. If you're feeling your emotions, it's fine. Say "this too," but then feel your breathing, be with your breathing. Let the breathing be the bottom of the hill where everything flows into it. Everything you do can be included as you embrace your breathing, sense your breathing, feel the breathing. This idea of "this too" is unification, reconciliation, and no opposition—just inclusion. Not the inclusion of condoning or continual preoccupation, but an inclusion that creates peace, opens a space, and creates a sense of wholeness.

Guided Meditation

So, take your meditation posture and gently close your eyes.

Perhaps as you sit here now, you can have an image of yourself sitting. Imagine yourself meditating, the very thing you're doing. Have an image or a thought in your mind of yourself meditating, and imagine yourself whole, unified. Maybe there can be an image that represents being whole: a circle, a sphere, a large body of water, the ground, a lake.

Settle in. Whatever is happening for you, use the phrase: "This too. This too is included in awareness. This too is included in the whole." Without getting preoccupied with the parts, just include it in the sense of wholeness. This too is included in awareness.

The center of this wholeness can be your object of meditation. Not to exclude everything, but to be the center of gravity. Let the breathing be the place where all things flow. Oh, you're thinking? You're feeling? Let your attention be with your breathing. Be your breathing.

Anytime you have a sense of opposition, removal, or separation from the whole, lovingly, gently say, "this too." Even to the sense of separation and opposition. Don't be opposed to that. "This too." This attitude of "this too" just keeps opening to everything, because in awareness there is space for all things, with breathing at the center.

"This too," whatever is occurring for you. "This too," with an inclusive opening to awareness. With this awareness that's more inclusive, include the breathing again. There is no opposition to anything. With the breathing at the center of a larger whole, everything else can be on the periphery. No opposition. This too.

Reflections

As we come to the end of the sitting, the practice of "this too"—the practice of non-opposition, of including everything in the wholeness of awareness, in the wholeness of ourselves—doesn't mean that we agree to everything. But it does mean that the heart doesn't shut off or cut off anyone or anything. The heart stays open; awareness is open and aware.

In "this too," there can be space. There can be a greater possibility to care for the humanity of others, to feel compassion for the suffering of others, to feel joy in the joy of others, to feel kindness for the basic humanity of others. It is having an awareness and a heart that is always ready to say "this too," to include others, to not be in opposition even if they are in opposition to us.

Have a basic, simple goodwill for others—well-wishing, looking upon them with some positive regard that sees their potential for happiness, well-being, peace, and safety. In that unification and reconciliation of "this too," may it be that, coming out of our meditation, we are actively engaged in making this world a better place for everyone.

May it be that the people we encounter today, talk to today, think about today—may it be that they are happy. May it be that they feel safe. May it be that they know they are respected and cared for. May it be that they know there is someone who is concerned for their fundamental well-being.

May all beings be safe. May all beings be happy. May all beings be free. May all beings live on this planet without opposition, as family, as kin.