Start by settling in to your meditation posture.
Closing the eyes,
If right for you to do so.
And taking your attention inward.
Coming home to the body.
Becoming curious as to what is within the body in this moment.
Tightness.
Tension.
Dropping,
Pulsating.
A sense of flow of energy.
Whatever's here for you.
And sitting,
Observing what's here.
As you become aware that the body is breathing.
Sitting back and riding on the waves of the breath.
Breathing in.
Breathing out.
As the body gently expands and releases.
And now seeing if you can infuse this breath with some kindness.
Some intention to offer goodwill.
Infusing the breath with compassion for self and others.
Perhaps just setting a slight half smile.
Opening the chest.
Opening around the heart.
With each in-breath and each out-breath.
As you bring to mind now a friend or a being that you hold dearly.
Imagine sitting next to this being.
Both of you breathing in.
Both of you breathing out.
Reflecting on all the similarities that you share.
Despite obvious superficial differences.
You don't look the same.
You may not sound the same.
You may have different issues going on in your lives.
Underneath those obvious superficial differences.
You are both humans.
With the same capacity to feel.
The same desires for safety.
For belonging and connection.
Longing to love and be loved.
Both of you breathing in.
Both of you breathing out.
Seeing if you can keep this open heartedness and desire to connect.
Appreciating the common humanity that you share.
Both of you are so alike.
Despite obvious differences.
Taking this stance and thinking about the other patients in the Specialized Ability Centre.
Perhaps patients you've met before.
Or perhaps patients that you have seen but know nothing about.
All of us breathing in.
All of us breathing out.
All of us with the same desires for safety.
For happiness.
For ease,
Connection,
Belonging.
All of us sharing in this together.
Despite obvious superficial differences.
There is more that we have in common.
As we now take this open hearted and connecting stance.
To imagine all the people in Manchester.
And all the people in the country.
All of us breathing in.
All of us breathing out.
All of us with the desire for safety,
Happiness.
Live a life of ease and connection.
All of us breathing in.
All of us breathing out.
As you now imagine all beings throughout the whole of the world.
All beings with a desire for happiness.
For safety.
All beings breathing in.
All beings breathing out.
And seeing now as we approach the end of the practice.
If you can keep this open hearted expansive giving and receiving of connection.
Throughout the rest of your day.
As you gently open the eyes.
When it feels right for you to do so.
