In this guided meditation, Jack Kornfield helps us settle into an embodied awareness where we can simply let the breath breathe itself and become the loving witness, consciousness itself.
This meditation was originally live-streamed by Spirit Rock on 8/23/21
Let the Breath Breathe Itself
Jack begins this loving witness meditation by having us bring kind attention to our bodies so we can settle into an embodied awareness. Jack focuses on the breath and how the first invitation for mindful loving awareness is to simply let the breath breathe itself. When we bring awareness to each breath, it’s an invitation for our sense of calm and ease to grow.
“And, of course, there will be waves of thoughts and memories and plans, of emotions and other sensations. Let them rise and fall around this breathing, around each breath that you take. Let the sense of breath help settle and steady the mind and body together. Let all the other experience rise and fall like waves of the ocean around this breath, and this one, around each breath.” – Jack Kornfield
RamDev explores inhabiting the body as a path to awakening in Healing at the Edge Ep. 71
Become the Loving Witness (10:50)
In the next part of the meditation, Jack guides our attention from the breath to the body and all the strong bodily sensations that can occur. He reminds us that we are the loving witness, we are consciousness itself. And just as we become the loving witness to our body, we can do the same for all the emotions and feelings that arise like waves of the ocean.
“And notice, as you feel the breath, as you’re aware of the waves that arise around the breath, that who you are is not this breath or this body, but you are the loving awareness, the loving witness. You are consciousness itself: open, spacious, letting the breath breathe itself, and the experiences rise and fall within a field of loving awareness. Become the loving awareness itself.” – Jack Kornfield
Jack Kornfield talks more about becoming the loving witness in Heart Wisdom Ep. 142
Take the Seat of Stillness (20:35)
Jack guides our attention to the waves of thoughts that might pull our focus away from our breath. And just as with our bodily sensations and our emotions and feelings, we bow to these thoughts and thank them. Jack ends the meditation by having us take our seat of stillness as loving awareness itself.
“And finally, let the sense of loving awareness extend beyond this body and feelings and thoughts to become the loving witness of all that’s around you, the joys and sorrows. You are the loving witness. You are the awareness itself. Loving and compassionate. Spacious. Amidst the 10,000 joys and the 10,000 sorrows, you take your seat of stillness as loving awareness itself.” – Jack Kornfield
Trudy Goodman explores love and awareness in BHNN Guest Podcast Ep. 62
