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There is an exhilarating when heading straight into your fear and defeating it. (Jumping horses for example)  When you "do it anyway" and find that the  "worst" did NOT in fact happen it gives me a sense of empowerment and freedom.  Harder for me to defeat are the emotional fears of failure or letting others down.

I just came in from hosting a weekly one hour silent meditation in Mill Valley. I do this because I discovered after many years of sitting as a practice and many more years of NOT sitting as a practice (to realize the peace is always and already here - no sitting required to actually know it) Here I am...discovering the joy I experience from sitting. So now I sit because of joy and love. Thank you Nipun for your ongoing commitment! Also, for this particular excerpt because it speaks - no, sings - to my heart, my love of silence and my deep desire to share this mystery of silent recognition with anyone who is ready to receive. Om Shanti

In my daily life I see these eruptions, whether they are the early warning rumbles or full scale explosions there is always choice to stop and fully meet what is here, under the surface and propelling this activity. In my experience, without fail, when I stop - not as a strategy to "get rid" of a negative emotion, rather with curiosity, willingness to see or be open to the simple presence of whatever is here - this is the doorway to release, relief, freedom - peace. The emotion may still linger but the hold is gone. The discovery that occurs over and over again is that in the willingness to include whatever is here in this moment, there is peace. Just writing these words brings my attention to here in this moment, to what is present. I woke up anxious, now I am experiencing a tremendous wave of peace and love. Thank you, Nipun, for sharing yourself in this way.