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Today we’re sharing a guided meditation from the wonderful Venerable René Feusi. Settle in, find a comfortable seat, and let René’s clear, grounded guidance open the warm heart of awareness within you.

Ven. René Feusi: If you sit, it doesn’t matter whether you sit on a chair or on the floor. The important part—if one’s health allows—is to have the back straight. You can rest the hands on cushions or whatever helps, with the two thumbs touching; this opens the heart-chakra in the subtle body and helps the energy align and flow properly.

Normally we speak of the seven-point posture of Vairochana. Even if you’re not on the floor you can approximate it. Each point benefits concentration. Sit with the legs comfortable, but keep the back straight. If you lean back the mind becomes dull; you may feel quiet but often slip into subtle sinking.

Keep the back straight, the right hand in the left, the thumbs touching, elbows a little apart from the body. Relax the shoulders—no tension—and imagine the crown of the head being gently pulled upward, so the spine is straight.

Gaze lightly along the line of the nose. Rest the tongue just behind the upper teeth to reduce saliva. The lips stay closed, but the teeth do not clench.

At the beginning, place attention on the movement of the breath. When thoughts arise, don’t give them energy. It’s natural for the mind to think; that’s okay. Let the thoughts stay like a pot on a back burner—you can use them later if you wish, but to taste inner stillness you simply don’t attend to them.

Next, focus in the area of the heart where your aspiration for happiness resides—your wish both to love and to be loved. Imagine a light or warmth there.

Let it expand, becoming larger and larger, pleasant and blissful. Picture it growing beyond your body until the sense of a physical body fades, and only the space of light, joy, and love remains.

Within that experience, examine: Where is the experiencer? Where is the thinker, the feeler?

Let 90 percent of the mind remain in the experience, while 10 percent asks, “Where is the ‘I’ that is experiencing this?”

Whatever positive energy we have generated by gathering here tonight—our aspirations for inner peace and virtuous qualities—we now dedicate so they may continue, increase, and lead us to enlightenment.

May any warm heart of love, compassion, bodhicitta not yet born arise, and may the love, compassion, and bodhicitta already present never degenerate but grow forevermore.

Above all, may we try to be as happy as possible and help those around us to be happy as well.

Thank you for your attention.

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