Illness practice.

Many people accept illness as the perfect reason to take a break from practice, but this would not be our Dhamma way.

To sit with the body through unpleasant feelings and often the misery of illness is perfect practice provided we understand how to do it properly. The most important thing is to take the attitude of just doing it. 

Don't look for a special reason or think you have to cultivate a special attitude in advance, just take the posture most comfortable for you and surrender. Let go of any desire or ambition to change something uncomfortable into something better. This is not the purpose of what we do. Let the attention naturally select an object and rest with that. As the awareness becomes more pronounced the objects will become more subtle.

In our usual sitting practice, we use the touch sensation of breath in the nostrils to begin, however, if there is a temporary reason why this is not possible, we should use whatever sensation presents itself to us.

Sometime we can just sit with the absolute misery an an illness and simply allow the awareness to move to wherever there is a natural attraction, other times, as in the case of a head cold or flu, we can place the awareness in the mouth and feel the sensation in the regular movement of breath there.

To be with the body in all its phases is how to understand the path to liberation properly. If we continually choose one state over another, we will never transcend the limitation that we place upon ourselves.

Sit with what is, and don't make excuses. In this way we can always expect good results.

May all beings be happy.