Embracing the Absurdity of Change

Dear friends, as we gather here in the serene surroundings of Rishikesh, let us take a moment to settle into our practice. Find a comfortable posture, one that allows you to be both relaxed and alert, grounded in the present moment. Lower your gaze or gently close your eyes, and bring your awareness to the ever-changing soundscape that surrounds us.

Notice the distant sounds, the nearby sounds, the symphony of life unfolding in each passing moment. There's no need to think about the source of these sounds or to visualize them; simply be aware of their ebbing and flowing, the silence that exists between them. Sounds appear and disappear quite effortlessly when met with mindful awareness.

As we rest in this receptive quality of attention, let us extend this same attitude to the sensations of the body. Sensations are ceaselessly coming and going—touch, tingling, vibration, movement, pulsing, energy, contraction, and expansion. Be aware of this changing landscape of the body, moment by moment.

Bring your awareness to the changing nature of the breath. No two breaths are alike. Each inhale brings a unique set of sensations—expansion, lifting—while each exhale offers its own release and falling. In this ever-changing flow of experience, we may also notice fluctuations in temperature, fleeting scents carried on the breath, and the transient quality of taste in the mouth.

As we rest in the stillness of awareness, we become present to the changing terrain of the heart. Moods and emotions come and go, sometimes like gentle mist, other times like raging storms. Feel their sensations in the body. Notice, too, the flickering of thoughts and images, appearing and disappearing ceaselessly.

In this waterfall of experience, we find sounds, sensations, breath, moods, emotions, thoughts, and images all ebbing and flowing. Tuning into this changing nature of experience, moment by moment, we begin to understand more deeply the truth of change and the absurdity of seeking permanent meaning in a universe that offers none.

Yet, this realization need not lead to despair. Instead, it can be a source of liberation, freeing us to fully embrace the present moment without attachment to outcomes or the need to find explicit meaning in every experience. By accepting the ephemeral nature of all phenomena, we open ourselves to living authentically and wholeheartedly in the here and now.

As we bring this practice to a close, take a moment to notice how attending to the changing nature of experience influences your perspective. No two moments are the same; everything is in a constant state of flux, both within our own experience and in the world around us. By deepening our understanding of this truth, we cultivate the wisdom and resilience to navigate life's uncertainties with greater ease and grace.

So, my dear friends, embrace the absurdity of change, and in doing so, find the freedom to live fully in each precious, fleeting moment. Enjoy your practice.