Welcome.
Thank you for joining me on our recovery journey with a guided meditation on ahimsa,
Or nonviolence,
Non-harm to ourself and others.
I am Kevin.
I live with the chronic,
Progressive,
Potentially deadly condition of Substance Use Disorder.
I have been in recovery since March 17,
2012.
In this meditation,
The terms use and use may include any substances and behaviors with which we have harmed ourselves and others.
The Yamas comprise the first of the eight limbs of yoga described by Patanjali.
Ahimsa is the first practice,
The first yama.
So the first practice of yoga is to refrain from harming ourselves and others.
As we settle into our meditation,
I invite you to find a comfortable position where you feel supported and safe.
Take any time you need to adjust your body and any pillows or cushions or blankets you may be using.
You might try gently rocking back and forth or side to side.
To ease onto the surface supporting you.
You might notice the feel of that surface underneath you.
You might notice how your body feels right now.
You might take a moment to release any tension or tightness in your forehead.
Your face.
Your jaws,
Your neck.
Your shoulders,
Arms.
Wrists and hands.
You're back.
Your chest.
Your abdomen.
Your hips.
Legs.
Equals.
.
.
And feet.
Whatever position you are in.
Let yourself find ease.
You might take a moment to notice your breathing.
Breathe naturally and comfortably.
Right now,
We are practicing Ahimsa.
We are not harming ourselves.
We're not harming others.
No matter what we may have done in the past.
Or what we may do in the future.
Right now.
We are not causing harm.
We're causing no harm.
When you inhale,
Appreciate that right now.
You are not engaging in any acts of harm to yourself.
Or others.
When you exhale.
I appreciate that right now.
You are not engaging in any acts of harm to yourself.
Or others.
When you inhale.
Notice that you are inhaling clean,
Clear air.
Free from harmful substances.
When you exhale,
Notice that your breath is free from harmful substances.
When you inhale,
Notice that you are able to notice your breath.
Your mind is right here.
Right now.
With you.
Able to support your intention.
When you exhale,
Notice that your mind is still right here.
Right now.
With you.
Fully aware of your thoughts and actions.
Right now by not causing harm.
We are making space for ourselves and others to heal.
In this breath,
We can transform harmful criticism into healing appreciation.
In this breath,
We can transform harmful resentment into healing acceptance.
In this breath,
We can transform harmful fear into healing faith.
In this breath,
In this practice of ahimsa.
We can take harmful thoughts and actions that has kept us suffering.
And we can transform them into the path of healing.
Ahimsa is a practice we can carry with us everywhere.
All the time.
And may be most helpful.
Most essential.
When we find ourselves around people,
Places,
Or things that have been part of our disorder.
These are the times when a simple reminder may help guide us to safety.
That reminder.
In a word is ahimsa.
Thank you for sharing this journey of recovery and non-harm with me.
If you have found this helpful,
Please let me know.
Your comments will help me create other guided meditations for our recovery.
I invite you to listen to my brief talk about AHIMSA on the path to addiction recovery on Insight Timer.
May we be happy.
May we be healthy.
May we live with ease.
