Welcome to Meditation with Social Justice.
My name is Jerry and I'm on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales in Australia.
Thank you so much for joining me today.
Life is a rare and precious gift.
To breathe,
To feel,
And to witness the beauty of this world is a blessing,
Yet many people struggle through hardship,
Inequality and injustice.
By sitting in silence we can cultivate compassion,
Not only for ourselves,
But also for those who struggle.
This practice reminds us that our individual healing is tied to the healing of our whole human family,
And that when we nurture justice,
Kindness and equity in the world,
We honour the very gift of being human.
Our meditation today is dedicated to all those people who may be living with family disruptions.
This is sometimes called family and domestic violence.
That is very emotional and very hard,
But it's one that we should dedicate to.
We know that family and domestic violence is a major health and welfare issue throughout the world,
And so that's why we're coming together today to dedicate this meditation to it.
So before we begin,
I'd like to acknowledge the traditional custodians on the lands on which we gather today.
I pay my respects to the Gambania peoples of the Mid North Coast of New South Wales and Australia,
Whose deep connection to land,
Waters and culture has endured for countless generations.
I extend my respect to all Indigenous peoples,
Elders past and present.
So let's begin.
Let's find a position that feels comfortable for you.
Comfort is crucial in meditation.
Relax into that position.
Place your hands into your lap or on your knees.
Let your shoulders soften and make sure that your spine is upright.
Let your breath come and go.
Notice your breath as you gently breathe in and out.
Now close your eyes.
Let's take a nice long slow deep breath in.
Let's try that again.
Let's take a nice long slow deep breath in.
Family disruptions or domestic violence is any pattern of behaviour used to gain or maintain power and control over another person,
Especially an intimate partner.
It can be physical,
Emotional,
Psychological,
Sexual or financial,
And it affects people of all ages,
Genders and backgrounds.
The harm is not only immediate,
But can also leave deep emotional and mental scars.
Recognising abuse is the first step toward breaking the cycle.
No one deserves to live in fear,
And support is available through helplines,
Shelters and trusted friends or professionals.
Creating awareness helps communities become safer,
More supportive and free from silence around abuse.
And so today,
We're going to use a Sanskrit mantra,
Om Raksha,
Which means Divine Protection.
We'll send divine protection to all those people who may be suffering.
So let's say that together.
Om Raksha.
Now say it silently to yourself.
Today you'll hear three bells.
The first bell,
Which tells us that we've just begun.
The second bell,
Which tells us that we're halfway through.
And the third bell,
Which tells us that we're near the end.
When you hear the third bell,
Just sit comfortably with your eyes closed,
And I'll come in and guide us through to the end.
If you find yourself drifting into thoughts,
Or starting to lose concentration,
That's okay.
Just notice it,
And come back to saying the mantra,
Om Raksha.
Just continue saying the mantra.
Just continue to keep saying your mantra.
Sending divine protection for all those people who may be living with family disruptions.
It's time to finish your mantra.
Just continue to sit comfortably with your eyes closed.
Let's take a nice,
Long,
Slow,
Deep breath in.
So let's make an intention.
An intention is a sentence or a statement we'd like to make to help those people who may be experiencing domestic violence.
An intention is,
I hope help is on its way to people who may be experiencing family disruptions.
What's yours?
And let's take a nice,
Long,
Slow,
Deep breath in,
And bring that intention into our heart.
So thank you so much for joining me today in our meditation.
This is Jerry,
On a tiny seaside hamlet on the mid-north coast of New South Wales in Australia.
