The Columbia City Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation class met this morning.  We explored ways of recognizing integrity.  We considered how we develop it in relationship. We learn it and we teach it.  We support it in one another through practice.  Integrity calls us to appreciate our innate goodness and also to recognize the ways we may cause harm.  Poet Micky Scottbey Jones encourages us to “call each other to more truth and love.”

We continued to draw from Oren Jay Sofer’s  book: Your Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love.  Oren shares ways of enacting integrity including:  Recognizing unhelpful mental habits of judgment, complaint or resentment.  Investigating what evokes this thinking and cultivating self compassion, generosity or patience.  He also recommends that we amplify our innate goodness by recognizing it and directing it outward toward others.

We heard Micky Scottbey Jones’ inspirational poem: Invitation to Brave Space.  She reminds us that:  “We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds. . . . We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow. We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know.”

Guided Reflection

Last week we explored ways to cultivate empathy.  We begin by practicing presence, recalling intention and attuning to ourselves and others. We ground ourselves with a strong and flexible back.  We are willing to see the world as clearly as possible.  In having a soft front we resolve to stay open to life. These aspirations are enlivened by integrity. Oren writes:

Living with integrity uplifts our hearts and brings truth, beauty and goodness to our lives.  Widening the scope of . . .  practice to include how we live every day, we honor our dignity, offer others . . safety and guide all to a more just and equitable society.

Oren believes that integrity calls us to reflect on how harms arise from “clinging, reactivity or self centeredness. “  He also asks a question that gave me pause:

Do you appreciate your own goodness?  . . . To smile at yourself means appreciating your heart and honoring your innate goodness . . . 

We are such complex, vulnerable creatures.  We are capable of loving kindness and harm.  I wonder how it would be to step out of self judgment and into appreciation?  How would it change the way I see myself and others?  I want to try smiling at myself more often.  Perhaps we could all appreciate our hearts more.  

Oren also believes that integrity “is a natural expression of our love.”  I’ve been reflecting on how integrity could be a natural expression of love.  Love often motivates me to practice restraint and generosity.  It calls me to care.  It helps me to hear the world calling for concern and care.

Oren observes:

Two powerful complementary qualities animate a commitment to ethical integrity:  conscience and concern.  Conscience turns our awareness inward with dignity.  It gives our actions a moral compass.  . . . What we know in our hearts matters:  this is a gift of conscience.  . . . Concern moves our awareness outward with compassion.  Concern urges us to move through life with care.  

We develop these animating qualities in relationship with others.  This relational integrity encompasses our entire life:  what we think, say and do.  We learn integrity from each other.  We teach integrity to one another.  Here is poet Micky ScottBey Jone’s “Invitation to Brave Space”

Together we will create brave space.
Because there is no such thing as a “safe space” —
We exist in the real world.
We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.
In this space
We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world,
We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere,
We call each other to more truth and love.
We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow.
We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know.
We will not be perfect.
This space will not be perfect.
It will not always be what we wish it to be.
But
It will be our brave space together,
and
We will work on it side by side.

We gather to create this imperfect brave space of love, conscience and concern.  Let’s form this space by gathering our attention.  Take some time to shift eyes from the screen;  adjust your posture so you can gradually settle into being and feeling.  You might take a few deep, slow breaths.  Give yourself time to sigh.

Rest your attention on the rhythm of breathing. If the breath feels uncomfortable you might be with the sensations in your hands or another place of feeling in the body.  You might open to the receptive experience of hearing. 

You can travel awareness through the body. Feel the places where your body rests on Earth.  Open to your experience of being. As you notice areas of tension in the body  acknowledge them for a moment.  You can place a warm hand over them. Invite them to relax.

As you notice feelings in your heart.  See if you can be with them; perhaps with a sense of befriending?  As you notice states of mind, can you recognize them with curiosity and care?  However your body feels;  however your heart feels; however your mind feels.   Allow yourself to be exactly as you are.   All dimensions of being in wholeness. 

As you’re ready, bring to mind any positive qualities that you recognize in yourself. Continue breathing and feeling and allow them to appear in your awareness.  Perhaps as a feeling, word, image, memory or idea.  Linger and appreciate each.  

This positive self reflection is about recognizing your heart’s beauty.  You can celebrate these qualities in your life.  If the voice of doubt or self judgment arise, you can acknowledge it.  You could name it silently.  Then return your attention to the qualities emerging in your heart.

You might connect with the aspiration to live in a way that respects the sovereignty and vulnerability of others.  Recall the many times and ways in which you have not harmed others:  times of listening, times when your speech was gentle and kind.  Remember when your actions were not abusive.  Recognize the absence of hatred or resentment in these many moments.  Receive the nourishment of your goodness.

This is an inter-relational wholeness.  We help each other realize conscience and concern.  All of us caring and being cared for.  All of us receiving and giving gifts that are freely given.  The gifts of presence.  Seeing. Hearing. Touching. Thinking.  We experience the nourishing joys of giving and receiving attention and care, generosity and kindness, nurturing and protection. 

Right now you can reflect on the last time you experienced the joy of giving to someone.  Attention.  Time.  Understanding.  Vulnerability. Taking action on their behalf.  What was it like?  How did it feel?  

Perhaps no one or nothing comes to mind. That’s o.k. see if you can receive the sound of my voice or feeling the sensations in your body.   Simply be in a friendly receptive way.  Experience one moment at a time. You can return to light receptive attention or the loving qualities in your heart.

We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.
In this space
. . .
We call each other to more truth and love.
We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow.
We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know.
We will not be perfect.
This space will not be perfect.
It will not always be what we wish it to be.
But
It will be our brave space together,
and
We will work on it side by side.