Begin Again, this New Year

Starting in 2025, Mountain Stream will be introducing something new: monthly themes! These themes are designed to inspire and support your practice while bringing a sense of cohesion to all of our offerings. We hope they foster opportunities for a deeper connection to both practice and study.

On the 1st of each month, you’ll receive an email introducing the theme. It will include formal and informal practice suggestions, recommended readings, and a mantra to reflect on and carry with you throughout the month.

We hope this new offering enriches your practice journey! If you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to me directly at adam@mtstream.org.

Wishing you peace and blessings in the New Year,

Adam Stonebraker

Beginning Again

As the new year dawns, it brings with it the gift of possibility—a chance to let go of what no longer serves us and to lean into what supports clarity, kindness, and awakening. In Buddhist practice, this act of "beginning again" is not just reserved for the start of the year; it’s woven into the fabric of mindfulness itself. Every moment holds the potential to return to presence, to release self-judgment, and to renew our intentions.

Beginning again reminds us that the path of practice is not about perfection but about perseverance. When the mind wanders during meditation, we gently guide it back. When we speak harshly to a loved one, we apologize and try again. These acts of renewal, small as they may seem, deepen our capacity for patience and compassion. They are the essence of resilience on the spiritual path.

In the Dhammapada, the Buddha reminds us:

"As an archer straightens their arrow, the wise person straightens their trembling mind, which is difficult to guard, difficult to restrain." (Dhammapada 33)

The act of beginning again is like straightening that arrow—it requires skill, care, and a willingness to meet ourselves exactly where we are, without blame or regret. It is a profound kindness to ourselves, a way of affirming that every moment can be the start of something new.

Practice Suggestions

In addition to your formal meditation practice, you might explore incorporating these informal practices into your daily life:

1. Morning Pause: Begin each day with a brief pause. Sit quietly, take three deep breaths, and silently set the intention: “May I meet this day with openness and courage.”
2. Mindful Anchor: Choose a simple activity—washing your hands, drinking tea, or stepping outside—and use it as a moment to reset throughout the day. When you notice your mind has wandered, return to this anchor with gentleness.
3. Evening Reflection: Before bed, recall a moment during the day when you began again. Reflect on how it felt to return to presence. Offer yourself gratitude for noticing and trying, no matter how imperfectly.

Suggested Readings

• Suttas:
• Satipatthana Sutta (MN 10): A foundational teaching on mindfulness, particularly the instruction to recognize when the mind has wandered and gently bring it back.
• Anapanasati Sutta (MN 118): Guidance on mindfulness of breathing, with an emphasis on cultivating joy and equanimity.
• Kakacupama Sutta (MN 21): A reminder of patience and the possibility of renewal even in challenging circumstances.

• Contemporary Readings:
• Sharon Salzberg, Real Happiness: Practical reflections on mindfulness and starting anew in daily life.
• Pema Chödrön, Start Where You Are: A compassionate exploration of meeting ourselves with acceptance.

Mantra for January

"With each breath, I begin anew."

This month, let us embrace the courage to begin again, trusting that each return is a step toward freedom. The path may not always be smooth, but it is always here, waiting for us to take the next step.

With Metta,

Adam Stonebraker

Resident Guiding Teacher

Nevada City Insight

Mountain Stream Meditation