Dear S.,

1. Any feeling–like sadness or fear–is only an apparent limitation of ananda (peace). Hence, the essence, or svarupa, of all feelings is peace. See that the latter is true–through a somatic experiential investigation.

2. Here’s how:

• Notice that there’s something bothering, nagging, or getting at you.
  • Start to write down these recurring thoughts. Really keep tabs on them.
• Next: Use the strongest image or thought to direct the attention inside the body. Really look for “the place” where this hurt is most palpable.
• Next: Assume that this hurt wishes to speak. Let this one speak and speak and speak–until it’s clear. Like:
  • “I really don’t like her.”
  • “She makes me feel like a loser.”
  • “I’m totally rejected.” And that means that
    • “I’m deeply alone.”
• Next: Open, like a sphere a light, around the feeling: “I am deeply alone.” Stay here.
  • Notice: When does thought arise in an effort to flee?
  • Notice: When does the impulse to get up and leave, to turn away arise?
  • Go back to being this sphere of light that’s “holding” this feeling.
• Next: When all the angst and thrashing and discomfort start to die down, allow the sensation to expand, to spread out.
• Penultimately: Give all the weight of this sensation to the loving space surrounding it. This is an act of surrender.
  • Notice: The sensation and the loving space begin to intermingle such that there comes to be no difference between them.
• Finally: See that what remains is without limitation and, as such, is peace (ananda).
  • Rest here.

With palms joined together,

Andrew