Hello,
I'm Chunsam.
Today we're going to do a classic meditation together to help us move through the roadblocks of our meditation,
Our yoga,
Or even spiritual at any DLA practice that you might have.
In the Yoga Sutra,
One of the main obstacles that shut down our joy when we try to do our meditation and daily spiritual practices.
That is V-R-D,
Illness.
It's hard to accomplish anything when we're feeling sick.
We all know whether when we're not feeling physically or mentally well,
It takes a little more energy and motivation to do what we need to do and especially to stay lighthearted doing it.
When we're not feeling good sometimes,
It's difficult to stay focused on our work or even to be present with our family and friends.
Or to even have clarity to make decisions.
When you're sick,
Especially when we're depressed to do something or we have too much anxiety about our daily meetings or business engagements.
There's so many reasons when we are not feeling well.
How obstacles can just block us.
And then we have this really great meditation called Tonglen.
It's a meditation that's just for you if this is an obstacle that you have.
So Tang Len means giving and taking.
The idea is using the breath to take away others' pain and illness and to give them happiness.
It's a meditation that will open up our good heart to others and to become more aware of others' suffering,
To understand where our own pain comes from.
From giving and taking helps us to have better empathy for ourselves and for others.
It's a great way to take concerned action.
To stop the problems.
That will come.
Tongling can be easily done throughout the day.
Lying down.
Sitting,
Standing,
Walking.
Walking down the streets,
Sitting in the park,
On the train,
Standing on line in the store,
Or at home in bed when you're not feeling well.
And that's what we're going to do today.
Giving health and taking away illness on a day when you're just not feeling well enough.
At Limitless Health Institute,
Where I work,
We have great success using this meditation in our self-care exchange program.
It's for people who struggle to get the care that they need.
And sometimes giving and taking is a useful meditation as a proactive care for self and others.
Let's block illness rather than let it block you.
In Tonglen,
We use the breath to connect with someone.
Who's having a challenge similar to ourselves.
And the breath connects to the more subtle wind,
The prana,
The chi,
Which is deeply interconnected with our thoughts.
Today.
We're thinking about the care we give.
This meditation will plant the seeds so that we can see the same care come back to us.
So let's get comfortable and do a very brief meditation.
Sit comfortably.
And in good alignment.
The head should be very centered,
The chid not too high or not too low.
This helps us to stay very focused on our object of meditation.
Let the shoulders relax.
And the hands just fall gently and rest on your thighs.
Chest open so we could breathe naturally focusing on the exhale the inhale will come automatically And this is just to calm the mind.
So we could focus better on the object of meditation.
Giving and taking.
Exhale.
Let the exhale move through the tension and any discomfort you may feel today.
Breathe gently.
Scan the body and mind.
For any unease in your health and happiness.
Decide I will end all illness for me and others.
Set the motivation.
Exhale again.
Identify the illness that blocks you from doing what you need to do,
From being your best to keep cool and kind.
Think of someone who has a similar physical or mental challenge as you're experiencing.
Exhale.
Imagine the person that has a similar challenge as you do are sitting in their bed or a chair.
Somewhere at home,
You can tell that they are worrying about this problem.
Sometimes it's fun to think about someone you don't know.
Imagine.
What they might look like and how they feel.
This I did in my three-year meditation retreat because I didn't see any people,
So I had to imagine the different types of people.
What they might look like,
Where they might live.
It's not so hard.
They're just like me,
Maybe just a different body.
Different country.
Get a clear picture of them.
Slow breaths.
Exhale.
Imagine that you sit in a chair nearby them in the same room,
But you are invisible.
They cannot see you.
If today you feel low energy,
Lack of strength,
Or too sick to even imagine sitting with someone,
Invite someone you admire for the ways that they help others.
Someone supportive to you.
Whoever that may be.
And they can go with you.
They can help you take care of them.
In the space,
Invisible,
You are with concern and affection.
Inside your heart is an exquisite red rose blossoming with fragrance.
Inside the center of the rose is a clear sparkling Diamond.
The rose represents your love.
The diamond is your understanding of how our lives are affected by how we treat others.
Exhale,
Breathe gentle.
You can see their pain,
Their sadness.
Suffering is just spreading throughout their body and mind.
Like a very dark cloud puffing up in the sky before a storm.
Or like a lump of sticky tar.
Every illness inside of them gathers into a black cloud or a piece of tar that's washed up on the beach.
And it gathers.
Into the area by their heart.
With determination and love,
Watch the darkness move through the veins to their heart coming together in a small black ball.
Full of their unhappiness,
Full of their pain,
Gathered at the center of their heart.
Exhale.
Focus on your breath.
Long,
Calm exhales.
With courage and love.
Think how great it would be to take away that illness that you see gathered together.
Inside of them.
That compassion that wishes they are free of pain.
Remember the other person's pain will not make you sick.
Decide,
I will take this suffering out of them.
And ask the help of that person you admire,
Your supportive friend,
If you need.
The other person's pain will not make you sick.
So first,
Bring up that willingness and love.
To take the pain out of them.
If you feel fear or caution to breathe in the dark cloud of pain to your heart from another person,
Just bring it to the space in front of your heart.
And when you see the bright diamond in the rose,
Think about the new seeds being planted.
How they create a new body and mind,
A world of health and beauty all around you.
So let's get ready.
Have a clear image of the diamond in the rose at your heart ready to destroy the illness.
Focus on your breath.
Your breath is like a magnet.
That will pull the sickness out of them with each inhale that you do.
Count to three slowly.
And on three,
Take a deep breath in.
With love.
And very very fast.
Ready?
Inhale And take that darkness of their suffering out as they exhale out their right nostril.
Black smoke coming out?
Inhale.
Inside your left nostril.
And let that black smoke travel down to the center where the diamond is brilliant,
Flashing,
Bright,
Light,
Powerful.
And in an instant,
All the sickness and illness is destroyed forever by that burst of diamond light.
Light fills your entire body,
Burns away all the darkness in a second.
It turns into a wisp of smoke that starts to leave your nostrils and then disappears into the air.
Think to yourself,
Every single particle of illness is completely gone.
For yourself too.
So bring the focus now.
Back to your friend.
You can see them completely free of pain and problems suddenly disappeared.
They are happy.
When you have time,
It's really nice to pause here a little longer.
It's a sweet moment.
Today,
Enjoy their smile.
And thank you,
Personal friend.
That helped you You did good work.
And be happy.
You cut through the obstacles of illness by helping another.
Come back to your breath.
Come back to the breath.
Exhale.
Gentle,
Think of the diamond in your heart,
Sparkling,
Bright,
Shimmering,
Warm,
Light.
And it has the fragrance of a rose.
On the exhale.
That fragrant bright white light comes out your nostrils and reaches further and further and further until it reaches your friend.
And believe that the white light wraps up all of your happiness like a gift,
And from your nostrils you give it to them.
They breathe in the diamond light till it fills up every part of their body,
Glowing with health.
Eyes gaze upon their happy smile and they stand up,
Ready to do the things they need to do.
Free of pain,
With love in their heart,
They go out the door.
And shine that light within upon everybody that they meet.
Focus on the health and joy you feel.
Exhale.
Exhale again.
And open your eyes.
Be happy about the extraordinary new seeds that you planted.
And dedicate this meditation to you and everyone else to be free of illness.
Be grateful of your practice today.
See you next time and stay tuned to learn more about how you can break through all the obstacles to your yoga,
Spiritual and meditation practice.
And enjoy doing giving and taking anytime,
Anywhere,
For anyone,
Just to lift up your heart and love for yourself and others.
