Excerpts from Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabot Zin.

"The richness of present-moment experience is the richness of life
itself. Too often we let our thinking and our beliefs about what we
"know" prevent us from seeing things as they really are. We tend to
take the ordinary for granted and fail to grasp the extra-ordinariness
of the ordinary. To see the richness of the present moment, we need
to cultivate what has been called "beginner's mind," a mind that is
willing to see everything as if for the first time."

Lovely Meditators,

A bit later than I had planned but here now, my apologies :-)

We would like to encourage you to increase your daily sitting time by 5 minutes. It may not be possible everyday but do create an intention and commit to trying the 15 minutes at a few of your allotted practice times...

Although breath continues to be the focus, the anchor, let us adjust our perception and view our experience here in a new light. Beginners mind or the ability to look at the world anew as if for the very first time is one of several attitudes of mind we each must develop as we "cultivate the healing power of mindfulness"

An open, "beginner's" mind allows us to be receptive to new possibilities and prevents us from getting stuck in the rut of our own expertise, which often thinks it knows more than it does. No moment is the same as any other. Each is unique and contains unique possibilities.

This really becomes an openness of mind as well as an act of letting go of the need to be in judgment about or able to control anything. Encourage a great curiosity about what is happening in this moment. Watch, see, witness. Continue to begin anew with each breath, noticing when you've drifted off and enjoy each of these moments as an opportunity to look again, to see the coming back in yet another way, a fresh way.

Take a moment to reflect on the how this habit of mind may open up for you as you sit with the breath. As if this breath is the first one you have experienced.

Now, take it beyond the sitting practice, make a connection to your daily life. How are you seeing the people in your life, at work, in your family, in the market, on the street, in the news? How about familiar problems or relationship dynamics? Are you able to see these people and experiences as they are right now with a clear and uncluttered mind? "Or are you actually only seeing them through the veil of you own thoughts and opinions?"

Do take a moment to jot down some of your thoughts. Check in on the blog, sit regularly, let us know if you have any questions!

Many blessings, much metta,
Jenn & Rebecca