Intention is the source of all karma. Accessing the sincerity of heart that fuels our practice and inclining it towards freedom is the basis for profound awakening.
This closing talk from a silent retreat points to the integration of our practice in daily life, with mindfulness as the golden thread that runs through all things.
Using the analogy of the 'committee mind' to free yourself from the tendency to identify with every thought that comes into the mind; using the breath as a secure place to extract yourself from the committee discussions and gain a new perspective on them.
Coming to terms with the inevitability of your own death and the death of those you love. If you wait until the time of death in order to think about these things, it's a huge shock. This is one of the reasons the Buddha has you contemplate if before death.
Can we fearlessly accept all that life gives with a wise and compassionate heart? We see how the sun shines unilaterally on all beings giving life and nourishment. But we must use sharp wisdom to discern what is harmful and abandon that; and to know what is wholesome and cultivate that. Even as a mother, may we emulate the Buddha's compassion that flows without bias in all directions across millenia.
Metta is love free from dependency on connection. Love explores family, service, intimacy, nature and creativity. It is a force for change in perception.
