We make a commitment to sit each morning, at the opening of each new day. We begin the sit by placing upon our hearts the intention to see whatever arises in our minds with God's eyes. To notice what ever arises with non-judgmental awareness, to greet each thought, each feeling as a visitor that is passing through. We set the intention to acknowledge our thoughts and as gently as possible let them go.

Sitting in an awake posture we let our attention rest on our breath. Noticing the sensations of receiving a breath and the sensations of releasing a breath. As the mind drifts to thoughts we acknowledge the activity of the mind-saying to ourselves: The mind is thinking, telling stories, posing questions and challenges. The mind is bringing forth feelings, fears, hopes and dreams.

We name this activity and return our attention to our breath. The goal is not to stop our thoughts but rather to practice greeting each thought without judgment or fear. We practice creating spacious awareness by noticing whatever arises and letting each thought, each story pass by. When we begin to constrict around a feeling, when we become aware of following a story we lift our eyes and return to the moment by acknowledging the thought, feeling, sensation and returning our attention to our breath.

Over and over, again and again we lift our eyes, acknowledge whatever thought arises and with gentleness and love, return our attention to our breath.

We close the sit by giving thanks for the opportunity to sit at the opening of a new day.

This week in the journey through bereshit we are guided by the letter shin which calls forth sh'tikah, silence. In this week of sh'tikah we practice stillness and discernment. We set an intention to notice whatever we experience with patience. We set an intention to move slowly, and deliberately so as to cultivate the capacity to see clearly and respond to all we encounter with kindness, wisdom and grace.