Introduction

Lily Balch: Today's practice is all about inviting our whole selves into the present and becoming aware of what is. We'll start by welcoming external stimulus, then from there we'll get subtler and subtler and include our thoughts and our feelings. It's very tempting to push aside unpleasant emotions or maybe unpleasant thoughts in meditation. But ironically, it's that courageous act of welcoming the unpleasant along with the pleasant that is so healing and transformative.