Today,
Sitting so quietly in a beautiful meditation place,
Surrounded by flowers,
Even the sky filled with flowers.
And when you look at the beautiful colors and think of the wonderful fragrance,
Think of somebody who you can share that with and watch the smile on their face as you think of them and offer them these beautiful flowers.
Starting with the great motivation,
I will become the best person I can and then I will be a good living example for everyone else.
I want to be a love virus.
A love virus.
I want to spread love in the world.
This is the most powerful thing we could ever share,
We could ever give.
Once the motivation has been firm in your mind,
Let's clear the mind to do a really good meditation.
And today,
Think about something,
Some kind of confession of a thought that you had,
That you knew just was not a good thought.
Maybe some criticism,
Judgment,
Not giving someone time that they needed.
Find the one thing today that comes to your mind that you would like to not do again.
Once that is out of your mind,
Really,
It is a good time.
Once that is out of your mind,
It is a good time to now think of something that you thought today,
Praising somebody,
A kind thought,
Helping somebody that needed you.
Take one moment to recall the kindness of somebody who introduced you to meditation and thank them and ask for their blessing that you have a good meditation today.
Sitting comfortably,
Posture straight,
Relaxed,
Breathe out and exhale.
Exhale again.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Exhale.
Exhale again.
Inhale.
Keep your breath soft.
Contemplate on this verse of poetry from Master Shantideva.
From the very beginning,
Exert yourself in the practice of treating others and yourself the same.
When the happiness and the sufferings are the same,
Then you will care for all just as you do yourself.
Treating others and yourself the same.
Invite someone to sit there in your meditation with you who is experiencing the same feelings you are today.
A friend,
A loved one,
Or even a stranger.
Sit together to meditate.
You imagine they are sitting there with you.
See their eyes.
See their smile.
Most of all,
You can hear what they are saying because they feel the same way that you do.
Take a moment to think of something you can do to take care of this person who is sitting with you who feels the same as you do today.
This is our self-care exchange.
Master Shantideva says,
I must stop the pain of others because it's pain.
It's like the pain that I feel myself.
I must act to help all others because they're living beings.
It's like the body that I own.
Given the fact that myself and others are exactly the same in wanting happiness,
What difference could there ever be between us?
What reason that I work only for the happiness of myself?
Both myself and others are exactly the same in not wanting pain.
What difference could there ever be between us?
What reason that I protect myself and not all others?
We are all equal in this very simple way.
The person who sits next to you or in front of you,
Your friend,
Your loved one,
Or even that stranger who feels the same as you do,
Take a moment and think again.
What can you do today to help them?
Make a beautiful story and watch yourself helping them.
Imagine where you are with them.
Is it outdoors,
In the forest,
By the ocean,
In the city,
Or at the office or at home?
Wherever you can see them very clearly and you with them in that space,
What kind of activity would you do together to help them to feel better today?
Make a plan.
Often we believe another person's pain doesn't really hurt me.
Sometimes we feel we are not able to help others.
But today someone is there in your mind that feels as you do.
You can help them and this will help you.
Make a beautiful story watching yourself helping somebody that feels the same as you.
What would you do for yourself?
You can do for another.
Take a moment to be happy that we have spent today thinking of somebody else that feels the same way I do.
Be happy that you have thought of somebody today that is feeling the same as you do and you have decided a way that you can help them too.
This is something to celebrate today.
This is something you will do the next time you see them.
Be happy.
We are spreading love today.
Exhale.
Exhale again.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Exhale and send out from your heart a beam of golden light and on the very tip of that golden light is your love that you give to your friend,
Your loved one and every stranger.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
And slowly open your eyes and dedicate the love in your heart to someone today.
