The fundamental unit of existence is “me” and we try to fill in this existence, “myself”, the center that orients my actions. The mind creates entities, fixed objects. In meditation we can see they’re not fixed at all, just resonances.

Guidance to sense into the 3 reference points, something the body knows but mind doesn’t. Amplify the sense of here-ness, lessen the sense of place and time. A here that’s always here, lessening engagement with what’s not always here. Best done in the experience of body.

Standing posture is in between sitting and walking. Standing immediately asks for whole presence and balance. These are great reference points – losing these throws us into structures of identification. [Walking instructions begin 18:37] Sustain sense of embodied presence. Notice tendencies to engage with eyes, pull with head, lose parts of the body. The whole body walks as space opens around your body.

The sense of orientation is a requirement, and it brings up the sense of self. It generates relationally, in response to objects, others, memories, etc. Generally that “me” sense is a set of mental impressions, not something fixed or solid. In relational context, the theme then is to maintain a sense of presence, establish primary reference, and use the body to get a feeling for that.

Beginning with standing position, take time to sense the space around that is non-intrusive, safe. Strengthening from the ground up, through the arch of the foot, and sending signals down, rooting. When you do feel centered you can maintain a center – that’s the most important thing.

Many of us are susceptible to certain perceptual signals that communicate codes of obligation and pressure. Citta becomes secondary to these signals and we lose our sense of wholeness, balance and presence. The advice is to pause and check in with the subjective sense, the “I” before the “am”. As you come into wholeness its energies can change, and we can stop going back to our “I am” habits.

In standing posture, begin with sensing the whole form – what’s around that and what’s in that. Body can be sensed in layers, starting with a basic sense of presence to the most primary level of “I am”, the sense of being a distinct object.

The sense of 'the other' is always a part of our experience, it's what consciousness does. Rather than giving attention to the other, practice with recognizing what the other signifies and what it activates in me.