This 22-minute guided practice with Heather Fenton begins with mindfulness of breath in the body and then shifts into a contemplation of renunciation (nekkhamma). We consider four possibilities for the practice of renunciation: letting go in meditation of everything other than the body breathing; cultivating an easeful attitude that experiences this moment as enough; generating self-compassion for what is difficult or uncomfortable; and finally, loosening the sense of being an ‘I’ or ‘me’ who is meditating.

Letting go, relaxing, we find the perfection of renunciation is easefulness and contentment mixed with the wisdom of selflessness of all phenomena (emptiness, not self, anattā).

Traditionally listed third of ten ‘perfections’, Renunciation is in the seventh position for the 100 Days of Care program as we follow the example of Thanissaro Bhikkhu in re-organizing our contemplation of the perfections.

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