This page contains the teachings and meditations from the Finding the Balance study day held in the Palace Hotel on Friday the 21st February 2020. The focus of the day was discovering a sense of balance (the middle way) in our meditation practice leading to the development of equanimity. Several readings were used throughout the day from the book by Pema Chodron entitled “Comfortable with Uncertainty”.
Recording 1 – Introduction to “Finding the Balance” in our lives and meditation practice using mindful balancing movements. A 16minute session of mindful movement with commentary.
Recording 2 – “Finding the Balance” body scan. A 31minute body scan seeking to integrate and balance body and mind.
Recording 3 – “Heaven and Hell” sitting practice. Starting with 2 passages from the writings of Pema Chodron (8minutes) this 30minute sitting practice is about being able to observe thoughts and be with them irrespective of whether they are judged to be pleasant or unpleasant, wanted or unwanted. In other words it is about finding the balance between rejecting the unpleasant and grasping onto the pleasant.
Recording 4 – “The Guest House” sitting practice. A 20minute sitting practice in which we practice “welcoming and entertaining them all”. The practice contains a recitation of Rumi’s “The Guest House” poem. Please note that this recording contains a lot of background noise from building work being undertaken close by. As it happens this is entirely appropriate considering the “Welcome and Entertain them all” theme.
Recording 5 – Equanimity sitting practice. A 30minute sitting practice with readings from the writings of Pema Chodron about the practice and development of equanimity.
Recording 6 – “Being human and being kind to yourself”. A 25minute loving kindness meditation practice – we are all human and we are all deserving of loving kindness.
