A Simple Life

The mind is entertained by the unusual, the different, and the new. The simpler our lives, the less complicated our lifestyle, typically the more quiet and calm our life becomes. So there's no coincidence that the monks and nuns and hermits of the Himalayas live with very few things. It simplifies life. It doesn't mean that we should immediately get rid of all our things and go and live in a cave, but if there are really obvious things that we can do in our life to declutter, to simplify, then life immediately becomes that little bit more peaceful. Doesn't mean that we get rid of all the obstacles and challenges of life, but we create the conditions to live with less confusion. We create the conditions for more clarity, and typically, we create the conditions for a calmer mind and a calmer a life. So just take a moment, make sure you're sitting comfortably, back upright, eyes open. And when you're ready, just taking some nice, big deep breaths, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. And with the next out-breath, as you close the eyes, just allowing the breath to return to its natural rhythm. Just bringing the attention into the body, becoming more aware the weight of the body and the different points of contact. And at the same time, just beginning to notice the different sounds around you. And as you bring the attention back to the body now, just taking a moment to notice how the body feels right now. Not assuming that it feels any particular way, being interested, noticing how the body feels. And then, starting at the top of the head, just gently scanning down all the way down to the toes. Beginning to shift the attention to the breath. Noticing where in the body you feel that movement most clearly. And noticing the particular rhythm of breathing right now. And as you continue to follow the breath, just beginning to count the breaths as they pass, if you find that helpful. Knowing that it's all too gonna come and go, and just remembering, the moment you realize the mind's being distracted, just letting go of that, and gently bringing the attention back to the breath again. Just remember, no real effort required, just watching the breaths as they pass. So each time you realize the mind's wandered, just acknowledging that distraction, letting it go. And then, coming back to that sensation, that rising and falling movement. So just resting the mind on that movement of breath. Realizing when it's wandered and gently coming back. And now, just letting go of that focus on the breath or letting go of any distraction. And just for a moment, allowing the mind to do whatever it wants to do. And now, bringing the attention back into the body again. Just starting to notice the posture, where you're sitting. Starting to feel the weight, the body pressing down, that contact between the...