The power of community.
December 14, 2020 | 16 CommentsAudio-only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 7:05.
Dear Open Heart Project,
I hope you are well. Before today’s sit, I share with you the single most necessary component of a meditation practice, the aspect that actually keeps it all going. I have learned this after teaching (literally) thousands and thousands of people how to meditate.
It has nothing to do with how much you know or how true your intentions are. There is something else that we all need… Please have a listen to see what that is.
Love, Susan
categorized in: open heart project
16 Comments
I love your teachings. Thanks very much. Joining you from South Africa.
How wonderful that we can practice together, even from such a distance. Sending love across the oceans. Susan
Thank you for the lovely talk, Susan. It moved me to stay on and sit ‘with’ you and the OHP, instead of my usual MO these days of doing it on my own. I found your instruction exquisite and experienced your presence and that of the group – even remotely – as supportive. I go into my day feeling glad and grateful, Karen
Karen! This is so lovely to read, for so many reasons. It is so good that we can sit together. Much love, S
this was my 2nd practice of the morning … however this time I felt my body relax in the moment (from time to time) as I practiced feeling the breath not just concentrating on the breath. thank you for your guidance.
You are so welcome. And I agree–that tiny pivot (maybe not so tiny) from concentrating to feeling is everything. Glad to practice together! <3 S
Hello Susan,
Thank you for the teaching, I’ve been meditating since 2007 and honestly speaking I am not sure what happens to me as result of meditation practice. But there is somthing in meditation and these teacings that like magnet that atracts me toward them.
Thank you,
Farid.
How wonderful, Farid! Also: me too. The magic is indescribable, but so real. Warmly, Susan
Joining you from New Hampshire.
Deeply grateful for your generosity and the weekly meditations and your contemplations.
May all your aspirations be fulfilled.
How lovely, Irena, many thanks! Sending many good wishes right back– Love, Susan
Thank you, Susan, this is just what I needed to hear and think about today. It gives me hope that sooner or later I will be able to find myself on my path.
Barbara
Glad this was helpful. And you are definitely on your path. Sometimes we can only see this in retrospect. Keep me posted! And, if it appeals, please think about joining the OHP Sangha for more support. With love, Susan
Dear Susan,
For a very long time I have struggled with the concept of a higher power. Yesterday the light turned on and it shone bright. My hp is community. Then, I listen to your talk this morning, and now that light is blazing. Community, sangha – that’s my higher power. Thank yih. Susan, reaffirming this for me. As always, I send you oceans of gratitude for all you have done in the past years to help me truly enter this world, if that makes sense! ❤️
Virginia
How lovely! Auspicious coincidence is a beautiful thing. So happy we are able to practice together. Love, S
Hello Susan, a little late responding, but as I was Reading, &, Listening, I “Felt that Slap on The Head”. When I was 1st. starting out in Recovery,(12step), I was Taught that I should learn to Look to someone besides myself for Guidance,(higher Power), That I wasn’t the Doctor I thought, &, when I questioned this Higher Power Stuff I learned that I already had one, ( the Bottle), guiding me ! Only when I let someone else in did some of the decisions / Pathways, move me in a productive direction, since then Listening has become so Important to my Expanded Practice !
Thank you. I used to joke that I was “all in” on 2 of 3 jewels. Community has been the one I struggled with the most. I have so appreciated the 6 PM E.T. sit with Sokuzan during the past year. It’s a frankly been a highlight of weekdays in 2020. /bow