Come As You Are

Book excerpt: G. Scott Graham first started practicing vipassana meditation in 1996. In addition to his daily practice, Scott joined 10-day courses twice each year, whenever possible, alternating between sitting and serving. Scott joined a course on December 11, 2019. On the early hours of Sunday, December 22, 2019, the day Scott's course ended, his husband of 31 years, Brian Stephens, burned to death in a horrific automobile accident. Two months later, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world essentially shut down. In this book, Scott shares his successes, struggles, insights, and shifts from more than a year of grieving-in-isolation. A year where ānāpāna-sati, vipassanā-bhāvanā, and most importantly, mettā-bhāvanā became his most important allies. Most of the people who initially provided support to Scott moved on, as they often do, from those who are grieving. More than an inspirational memoir, "Come As You Are" provides pragmatic guidance for those who are actively experiencing loss and grief. The reader will find techniques, strategies, and resources. Scott has also chosen to include a month from his personal diary, raw and unedited. An often emotional, heart-wrenching journal where he explored his grief, Scott's intention is to validate the experiences of others who are grieving and to empower them to integrate grief and carry it forward in their life. May all beings be happy. May all beings live with ease. May all beings be at peace.