The following I believe to be a teaching from my inner guru:
It is not uncommon to find ourselves stuck in a cycle of negative thinking. While we wish and pray to return to a sense of normalcy, often it seems that we are unable to navigate our way back to a peaceful state. It is known that the ego mind has the ability to go on excursions that are often driven by a misguided desire to right the world, lay judgements upon others, and create delusional worlds of our own making. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that these false states of existence are only the realm of a few misfits, in fact, all beings that have taken human form have experienced the profound effect that the ego mind has on perception. Everyone who has experienced life in this world knows of the power and effect of delusional thinking.
When we find ourselves faced with difficult challenges, it is a common and understandable desire to escape these responsibilities. The egoic mind can be very clever in its attempt to help relieve this suffering by providing a fantasy for the thinker to escape into. These fantasies can include escape into fictional worlds, a retelling of the past in which outcomes were more favorable, holding investigations in the mind to find others guilty for the state of affairs often followed by fantasies of bringing them to justice, and invention of new futures in which things work out in a different way. The ego mind, when fearful, will also tell frightening stories about the demise of the thinker’s life and the end of this world in an attempt to frame current pain and suffering in a meaningful way.
There is a way to relieve ourselves from this agony, it is a simple method but requires practice and discipline. Do not be discouraged if you find yourself unable to immediately feel relief from the effects of the ego’s negative thinking. Be diligent; endeavor to persevere and you will be rewarded with a peaceful state of mind and connection with our true harmonious existence. Remember the simple instructions for the meditative state and focus on developing this skill. Focus on the breath and nothing else, when you catch yourself drifting, return to the breath and be joyful in this return. Do not punish yourself for drifting back into thought for this is the nature of the ego mind, take happiness in your ability to identify the drift and return again to the breath. Think only of this. As you are in this state, become aware of this moment and this moment only. Just for now let go of thoughts of the past and projections of the future, there will be time to recollect and plan later. Just for now we will remain in a thoughtless state thinking only of the breath.
Allow your body to relax and only feel its ability to sense its presence. Notice the feeling of your body being only there, not doing. Feel only the body’s field of sensation at rest. When we release ourselves from the past and the future and focus only on this moment, it becomes easier for us to connect with the divine attributes, love without measure, boundless compassion, unrestrained sympathetic joy, and an equanimous peace that is not confined or limited in any way. It is through connection with these attributes that we can learn to forgive ourselves for the conflict we have created in our lives. Be compassionate and love your body and mind as a true friend. Forgive all mistakes and shortcomings. Be joyful and grateful for yourself. Share this compassion, forgiveness, and gratitude for everyone equally.
Remember, everyone is your ally. Even those whom we may look upon as enemies teach us valuable lessons and give us a reason to be compassionate for their suffering and unskillfulness. Even those who frustrate us are teaching us how to deepen our love and compassion for others. Those who seem to criticize us are giving us a chance to improve. Those who anger us are teaching us patience. Those who love us, are reminding us to return to the divine for guidance. Be comfortable in this moment for as long as necessary and always know that you can return here. For the peace in this moment is your inheritance; your true reality as it has always been.
Zen Momentum 