Advancing Our Gratitude Practice
Earlier this week in San Juanico we had the biggest crowd yet for Mindful Monday, our weekly meditation meet-up at 7 Breaks Cafe. A testament to this beautiful community, and also evidence of the Thanksgiving-week vacation in the United States that brings people south of the border in search of good waves, good people, good views and good tacos.
And so, we infused our exploration of the four foundations of mindfulness with a little Thanksgiving-themed gratitude practice. Here’s how we structured the sit…
Mindfulness of the body. What is felt in the body?
Mindfulness of feelings tones. Is what is felt pleasant, unpleasant or neutral?
Whether it’s pleasant, unpleasant or neutral, can we bring gratitude to all that is arising in our awareness?
It’s easy to be grateful for the ‘good’ stuff.
The more advanced practice is to note what happens when we bring gratitude to that which we label as ‘not good.’
Might this, too, be a teaching, a lesson, a gift?
Might this, too, be the call of the divine?
Might it be an invitation to turn away from a contentment that’s dependent on circumstance, and instead, toward an unconditioned happiness, one that’s always available within?
This Thanksgiving, may we bring a more equanimous gratitude to ALL that arises in our awareness.
Asking, ‘Why am I noticing this now, and is there a reason to be thankful?’
