Welcome to Meditation for Social Justice.
My name is Jerry and I'm on the Mid North Coast in New South Wales in Australia.
And I'd like to thank you so much for joining me today.
Meditation for Social Justice is a time where we can meditate together for people who are experiencing difficulties.
We will closely look at natural disasters.
There are people throughout the world who are directly affected by natural disasters at the moment and they will be finding things difficult.
We will dedicate this meditation to them and conclude by sending them an intention through the universe that may help to ease their difficulty.
So before we begin,
I'd like to acknowledge the traditional custodians and the lands in which we gather today.
I pay my respects to the Gambania peoples of the Mid North Coast in New South Wales in 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.
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 and let's take a nice,
Long,
Slow,
Deep breath in and hold it.
Let's do that again.
Let's take a nice,
Long,
Slow,
Deep breath in and hold it.
Now let that go.
We know that natural disasters come in various shapes and forms.
From tornadoes,
To cyclones,
To bushfires,
To droughts,
To floods and more.
And people who are affected in those times are affected in big ways.
Here in New South Wales,
In Australia,
We've had two natural disasters already this year.
Earlier this year we had a cyclone and the roll-on effect of the cyclone was flooding.
And then about a month ago we had another flood.
And there were certain regions in New South Wales which were affected enormously.
People lost their lives.
People's property was deluged.
They lost cattle.
They lost so many things.
And they're just trying to now get back on their feet and try to live a normal life.
So let's now dedicate this particular meditation to those people who suffered this year or in the past because of a natural disaster.
So today we're going to use a Sanskrit mantra for our meditation.
And the mantra is Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti.
This ancient mantra involves deep peace on three levels.
Within yourself,
Among all beings,
In the natural world.
And the mantra is often repeated three times to honour body,
Mind and spirit.
Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Let's say it together.
Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti.
And again.
Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Say it quietly to ourselves.
Now say it to yourself.
So today in our meditation practice you'll hear three bells.
The first bell is at the start of the meditation to tell us that we've started.
The second bell will be halfway through.
And the third bell will be just near towards the end.
When you hear the third bell,
Just continue to sit comfortably with your eyes closed.
And I'll come in and guide us through to the end.
Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Just continue to say your mantra.
Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Just continue to keep saying your mantra.
Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti.
We honour our body,
Our mind and our spirit.
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.
And let that go.
And now we're going to make an intention.
An intention for people who are suffering from natural disasters.
An intention is a sentence or a short statement that we hope will benefit these people.
My intention is,
I wish good fortune to all people affected by natural disasters.
What's yours?
So when you're ready,
Place your hands on your heart.
And we're going to bring our intention into our heart.
And we do this by taking a nice long slow deep breath in.
Let's do it now.
And feel the intention come into your heart.
Feel it moving in your heart.
And let's now breathe that intention out into the universe.
And we know that the universe will pick up those intentions and take them to all people throughout the planet.
So my challenge for you this week is,
What people do you know who are presently feeling the effects of natural disasters?
And how can you help them?
What is your next step in helping them?
So this is Jerry from a small seaside hamlet on the mid north coast of New South Wales in Australia.
Thank you so much for joining me today.
And I look forward to meditating with you very shortly.
