Dear Friends,
Building on yesterday’s reflection about sustaining the sweetness of wholesome states, today I invite you to a practice that helps us connect with stability as a foundation for those states. In Guided Meditation: Unwavering, Gil Fronsdal guides us to cultivate stability and steadiness in meditation as foundational qualities for developing wholesome states of mind.
Guided Meditation: Unwavering (32:13), by Gil Fronsdal
https://www.audiodharma.org/talks/17436
Gil guides us through three steps to establish this sense of being unwavering:
- Stability in the body, by assuming a posture that balances comfort with alertness, enabling the body to feel grounded and supported.
- Steadiness of the mind, through directing attention intentionally, releasing thoughts and cultivating a precise, calm focus.
- Settledness of the heart. by inviting the heart to relax, embracing a quiet acceptance of the present moment.
As we reflected yesterday, pausing to connect with stability can create a doorway for other wholesome qualities to follow. In this practice, when the mind wanders, we gently return to the breath and reestablish these areas of stability one breath at a time. This steady presence strengthens our capacity to sustain and nurture the beautiful qualities of mind and heart.
What wholesome qualities have you noticed are easier to sustain when the body, mind, and heart are stable?
Whether you try out this meditation or follow your own practice, I invite you to explore how unwavering stability can deepen your connection to the sweetness of the present moment. I would love to hear how it goes for you.
With good wishes,
Andrea
Today’s email is a powerful observation. So much is wavering in this world. That stability available to us in meditation is so rich in wisdom and goodness. May all beings benefit from this.
Hi Jeff, Thank you for your beautiful reflection. Indeed, in a world where so much feels uncertain, the stability we find in meditation is a profound source of wisdom and goodness. May your practice continue to offer that richness, and may all beings benefit from the steadiness we cultivate together.