The following talk was given at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California.

Please visit our website at audiodharma.org.

Opening to how you are in this moment in a very simple way.

Maybe a kind of a sense of a broadway not trying to look at anything more detailed or specific, but just how are you right now?

Letting yourself just have a sense of curiosity to meet yourself in this moment.

The friendliness of connecting with, as you might connect with a dear friend you hadn't seen in a while, how are you?

That kind of curiosity and question of wanting to check in.

And having the sense of receiving how you are.

That is curious and friendly.

Perhaps exploring the possibility of relaxation.

You might have noticed that there's relaxation and if that's the case, just kind of connect with that, appreciate that.

And yet some of us in checking in with ourselves may see, there's some tension here or there, feel some confusion or tightness in the mind, tightness in the body.

So maybe there can be a relaxation of body.

Maybe the body can relax.

Maybe the mind can relax.

With our relaxation of body and mind, that can support our capacity to meet ourselves.

More deeply to really connect with how we are, connect with how our body is, connect with how we are emotionally, and acknowledging how we are.

It's like this right now.

Feeling into how we are.

Whatever is happening for you, whatever feelings or thoughts coming through or body sensations, it is possible for mindfulness to hold it and be with it.

The sense of allowing and caring, a friendly attention, along with curiosity and interest.

That's what a good friend does for us when they ask, how are you?

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