There we are, just minding our own business, sitting cross-legged upon our meditation cushion, when all of a sudden, out of the blue, we are accosted with painful memories of cruel acts, perpetrated against us, by slathering trolls. In a flash our zafu becomes a crossroad: do we indulge our controlling tendencies and fight the presence of a memory, or do we train in being laid back and seek to make peace with it?

Lao Tzu and the Buddha agree, make peace with it. But that’s easier said than done, isn’t it? Might I recommend a three pronged approach?

FIRST blend mantra recitation with love: willing that ALL minds, relationships, bodies, and circumstances be lavished with every good thing.

SECOND blend mantra recitation with insight that coordinates the desire to let-go of all lots, forms, speech, and minds (as if they were as non-graspable as the infinite azure sky, on a bright and beautiful cloudless morn) with our parasympathetic nervous system’s propensity to physically relax and mentally release.

THIRD rest in the mind’s non-graspable nature by silently reciting “Notice this…” during each inhalation and “relaxing!” during each exhalation.

This will NOT stop painful memories from being painful (nor is it intended to) but it could help you to make peace with the yapping poodle of past cruelties recalled. _/\_