“Do you pay regular visits to yourself?” Rumi
Would you like to enter an inner journey that is like traveling in a city that you enjoy exploring?
Mindfulness is being aware of one’s moment-to-moment experience. This awareness is nonjudgmental, compassionate, respectful and curious. The person curiously explores his/her experience without attaching judgment to it. To keep the awareness on, during the practice the person can focus on his/her breath or five senses.
Mindfulness is an experience based on acceptance. It is about accepting what is as it is. It doesn’t aim to change anything. It doesn’t aim to make anything disappear. The person accepts his/her experience and observes what happens within. With practice the person also develops the skill to observe what happens around in a nonjudgmental way. As one observes there is a gap between the person and the experience. This gap is the space the person needs to respond to life instead of reacting to it (life). This gap also enables the person to detach from the emotions, thoughts and experiences s/he has. Thus those emotions, thoughts and experiences lose their power on the person. As the person accepts his/her experience, the transformation or healing s/he needs may happen or the person may find peace in his/her experience.
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi
