Welcome to this mindfulness practice focusing on the ability to find stillness in our lives.
There is an expression that if you quiet the mind,
The soul will speak.
Nothing can be more powerful than a state of silence.
Silence is healing,
Soothing,
Compelling and potent.
It can be found wherever we go,
Wherever we are and within us all.
And yet,
Ironically,
Most of us just don't get it.
Most of us know little silence and live in chaos.
Our lives have become so frenetic that inner silence is often considered to be impossible to attain and completely paradoxical to contemporary lifestyle.
This simply implies that we live in a world of distraction and diversion,
Both of which dilute clarity and authenticity and leave us stranded in a place of confusion and inner turmoil.
Where do we find this silence?
It is within us all.
All we need to do is be still and to seek it.
For it resides deep,
Deep within.
Whether you choose to sit up or lie down,
Find a place of stillness and quiet.
Wrap yourself up in a light blanket for comfort and ease.
Softly close your eyes.
Let your body sink into the earth.
Be comforted at this time that all is as it needs to be.
Nowhere to go and nothing to do.
Simply to surrender.
Here to simply feel your body and to listen to my voice.
Come into stillness now.
Drop your jaw.
Relax your cheeks.
Soften your eyes.
Feel the softness in the palms of the hands.
Feel the softness in the soles of the feet.
Feel the softness at the heart center.
Breathe gently and softly.
Deep,
Deep peace to your body.
Deep,
Deep peace to your mind.
Feel your natural breath flowing through.
Like a perpetual wave bringing peace,
Clarity and energy to your whole being.
Come into stillness now.
For deep,
Deep rest.
For deep,
Deep peace.
For deep,
Deep nourishment.
As you breathe in and out.
Deeply and slowly.
Breathing in.
Breathing out.
Peacefully.
Your natural breath flowing through.
Breathing in.
Breathing out.
Peacefully.
Your natural breath flowing through.
Surrender to silence.
Listen.
Observe.
Soundlessly.
Peacefully.
Allow all tension to melt away as you gradually relax.
More and more deeply.
As you breathe more and more deeply.
As you rest more and more soundly.
And the deeper you go,
The more still you will become.
And the more still you become,
The more that you will rest.
And the more that you rest,
The calmer you will feel.
And the calmer you feel,
The happier you will be.
Feel all tension,
All fatigue,
All strain fade away with the out-breath.
Allow this peaceful feeling to flow through your throat,
Down to your shoulders,
To your arms,
To your fingertips,
To your belly,
To your toes.
Picture a sunlit room.
Observe how the sun permeates the room with its soft,
Warm,
Gentle rays.
All in silence.
Flowers bloom in silence.
Snow falls in silence.
Clouds drift by in silence.
Trees grow in silence.
Rainbows appear in silence.
Moonbeams shed light in silence.
In silence we grow.
In silence we transform.
In silence we heal.
Enjoy these moments of solitude and inner peace.
I shall remain silent for a little while as you come into the moment.
Withdraw inwards to that place of peace and quiet.
To that place of inner silence.
You will hear my voice soon again.
Until then,
Enjoy.
If the mind is wandering again,
Draw it back to the breath.
Breathing in.
Breathing out.
Soundlessly.
Peacefully.
Allow tension to melt away as you gradually relax more and more deeply.
As you breathe more and more deeply.
As you rest more and more soundly.
And the deeper you go,
The more still you will become.
And the more still you become,
The more that you will rest.
And the more that you rest,
The calmer you will feel.
And the calmer you feel,
The happier you will be.
Notice this present moment.
Gently and slowly bring your hands towards your heart and place one over the other.
Scan your body and be aware of where it is beautifully calm and peaceful.
Can you detect gentle sounds around you?
Slowly open your eyes,
Take your time.
Bring stillness to your world.
Allow your breath to take you deep within.
To that place where all knowledge resides.
And serenity reigns.
Om Shanti,
Shanti,
Shanti.
Peace,
Peace,
Peace.
