33voices

When Sharon Salzberg was teaching at a meditation retreat, a student asked her: Has anyone ever died of restlessness in meditation? Sharon said: Not from one moment at a time of it.  “We have physical pain, disappointment, restlessness, and anxiety,” Sharon shared. “Whatever it is, we tend to compound it, not only: This is what I'm feeling right now. But, this is what I'm going to feel like next year. Everything congeals and feels permanent and heavy.  But, when we realize that it's one moment at a time of it. Then, we can explore. What we see is that even though something may last over time, within itself it’s moving. It’s changing and flowing. It’s in the live system. As a friend with a severe chronic pain condition said: "I found the space within the pain.”  How do you discover the space within the pain?  As a renowned author, teacher, and meditation pioneer, Sharon has made a transformative difference in my internal dialogue; Most significantly, in helping me avoid being overcome by my emotions. (My most