Listening to Your Inner Child | Sister Dang Nghiem

Listening to your inner child.

Learning to listen deeply to yourself

is a core practice of the Plum Village tradition.

To take good care of yourself,

you must not only listen to yourself in the present,

but also go back and take care of the wounded child inside of you.

Practice going back

and listening to your wounded child every day.

This child is here in the present moment

in every aspect of your life.

You can hear them right now.

Be the big brother, big sister,

mother or father that you yearned to have.

Embrace your inner child tenderly.

First, establish yourself in your mindful breathing and in your body

in all meditation practices.

It is essential to listen to your breath and to your body

at the beginning and throughout the session.

You can say, "My dear wounded child".

"I'm here for you."

"Ready to listen to you."

"Please tell me all your suffering, your pain."

"I'm here."

"Truly listening."

Quiet repetition of these key words

can help you hold your concentration,

until you can be in touch with your breath.

Breathing in.

I listen to my inbreath

Breathing out.

I listen to my outbreath.

Listening to inbreath.

Outbreath.

[BELL]

In

Out

Breathing in.

I am aware that my inbreath is short, rapid and loud,

or long, slow and quiet.

Breathing out.

I am aware that my outbreath is

short, rapid and loud.

or long, slow and quiet.

Characteristics of inbreath, outbreath.

[BELL]

I listen.

I get to know my breath.

Breathing in.

I listen to my body.

Breathing out.

I listen to my body.

Listening to body.

Smiling.

[BELL]

My dear body.

I know you're there, and I'm so happy.

Breathing in.

I'm aware that my body is

tired, tense, restless or relaxed.

Calm, at ease.

Breathing out.

I'm aware that my body is tired,

or relaxed, tense, or calm.

Aware of the state of my body.

[BELL]

I listen.

I want to be a soul mate to my body.

Now visualize yourself at the age

when the trauma took place.

As you follow your inbreaths and outbreaths, you can say,

"My dear wounded child, I am here for you."

"Please tell me about your suffering and pain."

"I am here, listening to you."

"I am here for you."

[BELL]

Remain anchored in your breath and your body,

so that you may give your full attention and listen deeply to your inner child.

Embrace that child mentally and physically,

and as necessary, cry together with your inner child.

Your mindful breathing and the relaxation of your body serve

as the safe harbor for your child to name the injustice

and to feel hurt for the very first time.

If you know how to go back to your inner child and listen like that every day

for 5 or 10 minutes,

healing will take place immediately

and will also unfold over time.