This class begins with a guided meditation that has two attributes:- firstly letting the body settle into a natural rhythm and then, without straining, extending the exhale, pausing and letting the inhale happen with full attention to the physical and mental attributes of letting the inhale happen.

Then, after several mindful inhales, including an appreciative awareness of any thoughts or feelings that arise, accepting them as the current expression of the experiences of a lifetime.

 The dyad discussions of the suggested practice of the past week had the theme of noting whether an experience was accompanied by clinging or non-clinging. This noting-acknowledging can be engaged in the moment or with reflection of a past experience.

We returned to the analogy of likening awakening to the experiential process of learning to swim, i.e. loosening the reinforcement of self-centered being and giving over to the co-dependency of interbeing.

As we practice being the experience of the moment, we shift from being in the world-according-to-me, to being part of the All-Being and discovering trusting that way of being.

However, even as our trusting grows, clinging to the desires, aversions and confusions of self-centered being, persists. Even as we practice non-judgemental mindfulness of body, feelings and mental states, we do so with varying degrees of self-clinging.

 The fourth foundation of mindfulness emphasizes acknowledging experience, however it happens, and letting it teach us how both clinging and non-clinging influence our perception of the moment. 

We can relate to the Dharmas listed in the fourth foundation as suggested ways to examine and learn from our experience.