touching another person without automaticity, with no
gaining idea, just presence and caring.
Coming Out of Meditation
The moments toward the end of a period of formal
meditation have their own tricky topology.
Mindfulness can become lax with the anticipation of
finishing. How you handle this is important. It is
precisely such transitions that challenge us to deepen
our mindfulness and extend its range.
Toward the end of a period of formal practice, if you
are not particularly attentive, before you know it you'll
be off doing something else, with no awareness
whatsoever of how the meditation came to an end.
The transition will be a blur at best. You can bring
mindfulness to this process by being in touch with the
thoughts and impulses which tell you it's time to stop.
Whether you've been still for an hour or for three
minutes, a powerful feeling all of a sudden may say,
"This is enough." Or you look at your watch and it's
the time you said you would quit.