Start Again.

“Start again”.

Start again with a calm and tranquil mind. 

An alert and attentive mind

A balanced and equanimous mind”.

Anybody who has done the S.N.Goenka Vipassana will remember this repetitive phrase.  Part instruction, part inspiration, the phrase is delivered in his deep resonating voice, slowly, deliberately, powerfully and playfully.

Designed to help us practise accessing the present, it reminds us that, in any moment, we can reset.   There is always the opportunity to ...start again.  

Whether it be on the meditation cushion or in our daily lives, despite what has gone on before, what comfort or discomfort we may have experienced, how successful we were or weren’t, what thoughts or feelings we had or hadn't, at any time we can choose to press the reset button, and start again with new resolve, attitudes, behaviours and actions.

Similarly the concept of ‘beginner’s mind’ encourages us to start afresh with whatever we face.     We learn to approach things and people as if for the first time, without preconceived notions, assumptions and judgements.   We reset from our automatic ways. We don’t react from a place of what we know but lean into the openness and curiosity of the unknown.  We deal with what is in front of us, the reality as it is as opposed to what has happened or not happened in the past.

And when we find ourselves faulting, retreating back to our old ways, we reset, gently forgive ourselves, open our hearts and start again. 

For, from this moment, this starting point, we have 100% of our life left. 

Happy resetting in 2016.

 

Image: via google images

100% quote a version of Tom Landry's.