Welcome to a meditation for interesting times.
My name is Beth and I'll be your guide.
May you live in interesting times.
It might sound like a nice thing to say,
But there are some who report that this was originally
intended as a curse,
That to live in interesting times meant an era of great challenge,
Tumult,
And strife.
Not many would argue that we live in interesting times,
So interesting that there sometimes
seems as if only escalation and deepening pain lie ahead of us.
There is so much suffering and so much darkness expressing itself across our planet.
If you're here,
You probably wish you could do something to bring more harmony to,
If
not just your own life,
To the world at large.
While we might not be able to stop wars,
Corruption,
Poverty,
Or other needless human failings,
Each of us can be an island of serenity among the chaos.
In this meditation,
We'll generate courage,
Calm,
And an internal light to see us through
interesting times.
Be the lighthouse that shines the warmth of universal love and truth from where you sit.
Let's begin.
Please sit comfortably with your back straight.
Notice how your body feels and adjust or even stretch it to alleviate any discomfort or tension.
Once settled,
Begin to attend to your breath.
Just watch.
Watch this force
breathing you.
Focus on the breath entering and leaving,
Coming and going.
Place your awareness now in your heart.
Imagine a soft glowing candle in the center of your heart.
Feel the warmth of that glowing flame.
And let that warmth build and spread throughout your entire body.
Imagine your whole body a shining light.
Now imagine interacting with your loved ones,
The people who are close to you.
And imagine that as you interact with them,
You transfer a little of your glow of your light and warmth.
And in so doing,
They also become luminous.
Now imagine yourself going out into the world
to work with perhaps your neighbors,
Perhaps those at the nearest market or at work.
And again,
With each interaction,
Feel yourself sharing that warmth and light.
And as you touch the lives of others,
They too light up
with heart-filled warmth.
And they go home to their families and loved ones to share that light.
And imagine now that you could share your love,
That single flame in your heart,
With the whole nation in which you live,
With the power of your intent.
You can spread that flame,
That light,
And ignite
other hearts in your country.
And in so doing,
Each person who is receptive to this light
returns to their neighborhoods and their loved ones
to activate more and more people as beacons of compassionate interrelation.
Can you now imagine
sharing that very warm,
Compassionate,
Graceful light
with any perceived enemies of your nation?
Can you imagine touching their hearts in such a way that they too
are illuminated?
That light and truth can emanate from them as well.
So that all nations can begin to heal
and recognize the truth of who we are,
Who we can be.
And now imagine the whole world
alight with that warmth,
With that heart flame,
A single unified light spreading
all over the planet.
You are a beacon of compassion,
An imperturbable tower of grace,
Light,
And truth.
The world and all of its tragedies cannot touch you,
Cannot impose fear upon you.
Your heart is as vast and deep as the ocean,
With cooling waters that soothe every heartache,
Every confusion,
And sweeten every bitterness.
Abide in the vast,
Indescribable,
And incomprehensible power
of being lit up by love.
Resolve to embody the light of universal love
now and forever.
As we bring this meditation to a close,
Please bring your hands together into prayer pose
at the heart,
And please repeat after me as we dedicate
the merits of this practice.
May we remember to treat all lives
all beings and ourselves
with love and dignity,
Even in the face of being mistreated.
May those who have lost themselves in ego and fear
be released from their suffering and realize truth.
Beautiful.
Thank you so much for joining me for this meditation.
It is now complete.
