In this meditation,
We return to the Garden of Tranquility for free time,
Meditation,
Contemplation and exploration.
Here for self-inquiry,
We close our eyes to cut down on any physical distractions.
We take a few deep breaths.
If any current annoyances,
Clears our consciousness to be more open to new experiences.
We can always return to these outer issues and concerns if necessary.
After our meditation,
Do this now,
Let go of any immediate concerns.
So who are we?
We have a body.
We can control it,
Relax our body at will.
We are not.
We have emotions and we can select the feeling and reaction that we want and control them.
We have desires that we can direct.
We are not them either.
We have an intellect that we use for thinking.
We are not our intellect.
We are not.
These are instruments of awareness,
Vehicles for communication.
They are integral parts of our personality,
Our ego.
We are more.
Each one of us is a center of awareness,
A focus or point of pure intelligence that observes,
Reflects,
Guides and controls our ego,
All our instruments of awareness.
This center of consciousness acts like a lens.
It is our lens of awareness that knows how to direct energy from the ocean of light into our instruments of awareness.
This center of consciousness truly is our higher self,
The I am,
Our immortal,
Conscious,
Present.
And now it is time to go to our garden of tranquility,
Our special inner sanctuary,
Where we go to take refuge from the outer world,
Our external levels of thought and feeling.
To do this,
We imagine that we are in a dense forest.
It is a quiet day.
The trees and plants are thick with a beautiful white fog.
We are walking up a path.
As we walk along,
We make note of the peaceful mood of this entire area.
The fog is getting thicker now,
So thick that it is becoming difficult to see the trees.
As we continue walking up the hill,
The fog becomes brighter and brighter,
Brighter,
Higher and brighter.
When suddenly we break through the fog,
We are above the clouds,
Where the sun is shining brilliantly.
We continue up the path in the clear sunlight.
Just up ahead,
We notice a curve in the path.
At the bend,
As we turn,
We encounter an open and level place,
And a wood gate.
Beyond the gate,
We see a beautiful garden of flowering trees and plants.
Walking up to the gate,
We notice a sign.
Please leave your intellect at the gate.
It will be useful to remove our intellectual expectations before we proceed.
It is as if we can take off our intellect,
Just as we might remove a hat,
And simply set it aside for a while.
We will pick it up as we leave in a few moments.
So now,
Let's remove our intellectual assumptions.
Take off the intellect,
As if we are removing a hat.
There is a hook near the gate where we can hang our intellectual hat.
Do this now.
We will pick our intellect up later on the way out.
Now that our intellect is parked,
Let's proceed to open the gate.
Step into the garden,
Close the gate.
Slowly walk about this garden.
Observe the delicate and colorful flowers.
Notice the path,
The trees,
Bushes.
We spot a nearby stream of bright,
Clear water.
We notice how peaceful and safe we feel in this place.
We look for a spot to rest in our garden.
Near the stream.
Take a few moments to find that special place.
This is your time for contemplation and meditation.
It is also possible to explore the garden,
Any buildings,
Any other beings,
Any other special places.
I will be back when it's time to return to time and space.
Prepare to return to our regular state of thoughts and feelings.
Remember this spot.
It is your special place in the gardens.
Your sanctuary.
As we begin to walk to the gate,
Take one last look around to remember this garden and our special place in it.
We will come back here often.
Approach the entry gate.
Open it.
Walk through.
Close the gate.
Find the hook.
Pick up and put on the hat that symbolizes the intellect.
We are on our way now.
Down the hill.
Slowly sinking into the clouds.
Moving through the clouds.
Thicker and thicker.
Lower.
Down.
Out of the clouds.
And back into the dense forest.
Down the path.
Preparing to return.
Now that we have made real contact with a higher level of consciousness,
The real intent is to return to our higher self.
It will be easy to return to this level of awareness by recalling the memory of this state.
And every time we make an effort to do this,
We will find it easier to accomplish and we will achieve a more effective and powerful level.
Let's return to our regular waking state of thoughts,
Feelings,
And actions.
To time and space.
And as we do this,
We know that our personality has made progress in developing a working relationship with our higher self,
The conscious presence.
Take a few deep breaths to help establish the waking state and return fully alert,
Comfortable in all instruments of awareness,
The heightened awareness of our environment,
The knowledge I am aware.
