Sleep Mantra: Being Water

Here we will repeat a few select lines from the ancient Tao Te Ching. The lines provide a mantra to bring your mind and body out of the stories of life and into deep rest. There is no need to think about these words. Simply feel them. Let them remind you of your true nature: "Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice." The final few minutes contain no voice and allow the music to gradually fade into silence.

Transcript

Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. You can allow your eyes to close and you might take a few deep inhales and exhales. You can allow the body to relax, No resistance, Nothing holding on. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. And now we will experience these words many times, Just see if you can feel them or even let them become who you are. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. No resistance, Nothing holding on. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice. Clear as a glass of water and fluid as melting ice.

Reviews

Dropped in to release some stress and tension. This did wonders. Will return to it. Thank you.

This really helped me fall asleep. Of course, Charles has a great facilitator voice. I didn’t think a shorter session would be enough for me but I went to sleep. Thank you .Charles! PS I had another painful round of trigger point shots last week and I used this mantra to embrace the pain. 🧘‍♂️😌

Beautiful meditation, thanks Charles

Great!!!

Thank you for this meditation. It really hit home for me!

A couple of months ago, during a live session, we talked about verse 15 of the Tao. The entire verse is incredibly powerful, but those lines stayed with me… “Clear as a glass of water... Fluid as melting ice.” That was right when I was trying to choose an intention and motto for 2026… and that became it.
It’s a simple teaching, but it keeps showing up exactly when I need it. I’m really grateful you revisited this verse and offered it this way.
I’ll be using it daily as preparation before beginning Zazen. 🙏🏼💞