Resilience - flow

Resilience, resiliency, resilient – The capability of a strained body/mind to recover its shape and posture after deformation caused by stress, misfortune or change - capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation or rupture – tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.

Resilience is the underlying function of a relaxed, aligned body and pacified yet alert mind – trusting in the bodies natural intelligence will help it find a harmonious, resilient and natural state of relaxed readiness.

Strict physical holding and grasping with the intention of getting the posture “right” creates tension that dulls awareness of mind activities and body functions/sensations, disrupting the communication and feed back within the organic machine that is our body.

“Release and relax all physical and mental holding and grasping.”

Resilience may suggest voluntary movement –but reflects the deeply organic nature and grace of the body and mind within space and time.

Resilience never forces – it is intimately aware, accepts, attends and flows with the mental and physical forces at play within the moment.

When you become aware of a sensation, accept and flow with it – allow it to present itself fully – give it your undivided attention; neutral, pleasant or unpleasant… pay attention to what it is saying-doing, feel it is an offering to your awareness – accept it, appreciate it... it is your life.

Attention to and allowance of the breath and the many-tiered rhythms and ripples it generates in the body and mind will allow contact with the subtle nature and its graceful resilience operating in our life through sitting and the other modalities offered in this text.

Movement, move – The act or process of moving, change of place, position or posture. To show marked activity or action. The action of moving from a motionless position.

Voluntary deliberate, reactionary movement initiated by the mind that discriminates between “bad and good - this and that” is antithetical to sitting meditation. This type of movement inhibits the body from fully accepting the moment and hindering the body from entering a state of rest, resilience and alignment – keeping the discursive mind active and in opposition to the practice to manifest a tranquil and at peace mind in the Now.

Voluntary movement shuts out the sensations of life, and denies the body and mind the ability to grow beyond and expand its envelope of experience – defeating the natural mechanisms of resilience and adaptability of the human body and mind, inviting stress and confrontation with life in the moment.

“Initiate a relaxed aligned posture and commit to it - sit motionlessly resilient and breathe, relax and pay attention – see all thoughts, acknowledge them and mindfully let them go, gently come back to the moment.”