BABYSTEPS

The first step, the "babystep", in the seven "steps" of mind training, is the basic preliminaries. The actual sitting one's butt down; slowing everything down; breathing, gently; mindfully.  Allowing whatever is going to arise from the muddy bottom of consciousness to float to the surface. See it; own it; examine it; know it is only a memory. A dream thing. Touch it lightly and then: let it go.




Identify these "dreams" as memories; as thinking; as constructs of the mind. Nothing really is real. All dharma is a dream: even the dreams are dreams! (Wowza!!!) Don't let that knock you off your cushion--just breathe in the thought: "Thinking."  Then, breathe out the thought: "Letting go."


A light touch of a feather on  your breath--an image Pema Chodron, Buddhist nun/scholar, offers--works quite beautifully.




No big deal.
If it feels like a Big Deal, breathe it in. Examine it. Welcome it. Breathe it out as "memory" and let it go. No judgment on how  you did or where you will next progress to...no bullying of self (or others). No comparisons. No black dots to denote failure and no gold stars, either.
No big deal. Seriously.



Just sitting. Just breathing. Just compassion for everything--including Oneself.


Namaste.