Welcome.
I'm really glad you're here.
Let's begin by arriving together.
Not rushing in,
Not trying to be anywhere else,
But simply allowing ourselves to land.
Go ahead and find a comfortable seat or shape.
Let your body be supported.
Let the floor,
The chair,
Or the earth beneath you do some of the holding.
This meditation is about peace.
Peace isn't found by force,
But by awareness.
Peace is a loving walk toward what truly nourishes us.
This meditation is inspired by the monks who are currently walking across the globe for peace.
They with devotion,
Simplicity,
And intention,
Carrying only what they need step by step.
And it made me reflect on our own lives.
How often we try to force peace,
Force answers,
Force strength,
Force ourselves to keep going.
This meditation is an invitation to try something different.
Let's begin with a few grounding breaths.
Inhale gently through the nose,
And exhale slowly and completely.
Again,
Inhale,
Inviting presence.
Exhale,
Releasing effort.
One more time.
Inhale and exhale,
Letting the body soften just a little more.
Notice where your body is touching the ground.
Your feet,
Your seat,
Your back.
You don't have to hold yourself up alone right now.
You are supported.
Now,
If you haven't already,
Allow the eyes to gently close.
I want to offer this gently.
Peace isn't something we arrive at once everything is figured out.
Peace is something we orient toward again and again.
The monks don't walk to escape difficulty.
They walk with it,
Honoring what's hard while choosing to walk in the direction of peace anyway.
And we can do the same.
This doesn't mean bypassing pain.
It doesn't mean pretending everything is okay.
It means staying honest,
While also remembering what is already good,
What is already working,
What is already steady within us.
Let's move into a loving kindness practice.
And with the eyes soft,
Come back to your breath,
Feeling into the natural way that the breath flows in and out.
Just taking a moment to connect again to your breathing.
Connecting to the connection you have with the ground beneath you,
Too.
Notice how the ground is steady.
It's unchanging.
You are safe.
In your mind's eye,
Imagine yourself walking your own path.
Not rushing.
Not forcing.
Just walking.
With each step,
Silently offering these phrases to yourself.
May I walk in peace.
May I meet what is hard with kindness.
May I trust what is already nourishing me.
Let the rhythm of these words be like footsteps.
May I walk in peace.
May I meet what is hard with kindness.
May I meet what is hard with kindness.
May I trust what is already nourishing me.
Now,
Begin to extend these wishes outward.
I'd like to invite you to think of someone who is easy to love.
This could be a child or a beloved pet.
Hold this image of them in your mind,
Then begin to extend these wishes.
May you walk in peace.
May you be held in kindness.
May you trust what nourishes you.
Let it come naturally.
Just a genuine wish or prayer of loving-kindness to somebody with whom you love.
May you walk in peace.
May you be held in kindness.
May you trust what nourishes you.
And now,
Someone who is struggling.
Maybe someone caring more than they can right now.
Take your time as you bring this person to mind.
And when you are ready,
Begin to extend the wishes.
May you walk with peace.
May you be supported.
May you feel moments of ease.
May you walk in peace.
May you walk with peace.
May you be supported.
May you feel moments of ease.
Bring your attention into your body.
If you'd like,
You can even place a hand over your heart space.
This is where loving-kindness lives.
Notice how it feels in the body.
As you become more connected to your own capabilities of growing loving-kindness within,
You may feel the desire to allow it to expand a bit.
And so you might,
As a final part of this practice,
Expand the loving-kindness into the wider world,
Bringing to mind family,
Co-workers,
Your neighbors,
Community.
Continuing to allow this awareness to grow of how far your capabilities of sending loving-kindness,
These beautiful wishes,
Out into the wider world can go.
May we walk in peace.
May we remember what connects us.
May kindness guide our steps.
May we walk in peace.
May we remember what connects us.
May kindness guide our steps.
Gently begin to bring your awareness back into the room.
Wiggle your fingers or your toes,
And when you're ready,
Gently open your eyes.
As this practice comes to an end,
Remember this.
You don't need to carry everything.
You don't need to rush.
You are allowed to walk your life with awareness,
Honesty,
And care.
Thank you for walking this path with me,
And thank you for your practice.
