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Mindfulness is the mother of insight
“Come home with me in silence…” leads us into the practice of mindfulness through the breath and each step: not forcing, not struggling, simply “breathing in, I know I am breathing in; breathing out, I know I am breathing out.” The breath is the gateway to return to our inner home, the first act of loving ourselves, helping each present moment to be comforting and nourishing.
We practice touching—through our hands, our eyes, our words, or simply our presence—to bring the energy of mindfulness into every relationship, whether holding a baby, caring for a pet, or attending to a loved one. This energy is expressed through the four functions of mindfulness:
- offering our presence,
- recognizing the presence of the other,
- soothing and calming suffering,
- seeing the suffering.
From here arises meditation with its two aspects: shamatha (stopping, concentration) and vipashyana (deep looking), opening the door to understanding, healing, and nurturing true love.