In the second part (click here to listen to the first part) of a Jewish meditation talk given at a 2005 ECAMP retreat, Rabbi Joanna Katz opens with a quote from the Dalai Lama suggesting that the very purpose of our life is to seek and to move towards happiness. Using a verse from Deuteronomy and stories from her own meditation retreat experiences Joanna describes the merit of being with what is arising.

We do this by rejoicing in everything that God has given us. …this is a practice instruction inclining our hearts to rejoice in all that’s been given to us… …it also reminds us of ‘that place,’ of wholeness and of center, where we experience that joy…

Be with yourself. …allow yourself to be with what comes up for you in [this] moment. Sometimes it’s hard to do that because we are aversive, because we want something or because we’re in fear.