Namaste.

Usually at the beginning of retreat we talk about the word Namaste, I'm aware that we

didn't. And even for those of us that have said it a thousand times it's, I think it's

one of the most amazing and beautiful rituals of greeting in the history of the universe.

I mean think of it we're saying these words that really mean I see and I bow to the sacred

that is shining through you, living through you, expressing through you. Like what if we

really slow down enough to just even glimmer that when we, you know, is just a regular way

of encountering each other. So I wasn't planning to go into that but that came to mind.

So one of the nice things about New Year's Eve and kind of the turning of the year, it

can be a skillful means like a useful marker where we sense as we try to so often what

really matters and what we want to deepen our attention to. I've sent so much in the

groups and just in the hall this deepening of presence and a kind of courageousness of

heart. I mean it's just, it's no small deal to choose to come here and whether you are

one of those people that choose to come here and found yourself taking so-called breaks

and spending more time, you know, walking somewhere else or whether you've been right

with the schedule still. There's some choosing to pay attention to your heart and your awareness

and there's a waking up that happens. And tonight I want to talk specifically about

the waking up of this heart. These are the words of Hafiz and for those of you that don't

know the name of the book is the subject tonight is love, translation of Daniel Ladinsky

and it's a wonderful book. So he writes, the subject tonight is love. Here we go. And

for tomorrow night as well, as a matter of fact, I know of no better topic for us to discuss

until we all die. So the subject tonight is love and my understanding is the most essence

...