So in this meditation,
Focusing our attention on an important aspect of loving kindness,
Peace,
Peace for ourselves,
For others,
For our world.
Start by taking a moment or two to arrive,
To become present,
Allowing yourself to be comfortable but alert,
Noticing how you're connected to the surface below,
A seat or a couch or a floor or the ground itself,
Noticing the reliable,
Sure connection through the soles of the feet,
The seat bones or however you are connected,
Feeling into that safe,
Secure,
Holding,
Feeling grounded and closing your eyes if that's comfortable,
Letting go of anything that is preoccupying you,
Just being quiet and still,
Breathing gently,
Your whole body to relax,
Letting go as best you can of any tension and feeling into the stillness of the moment,
Even though there may be background sounds,
Some quite loud even,
Not allowing them to affect you,
Just noticing anything that does attract your senses and quickly returning to focus on your meditation.
One important part,
We are told by many,
One example,
One important part of finding peace is to not allow ourselves to be governed by the thoughts,
The control of others,
To recognize when others might will to impose negative energy on us,
To know that it is within ourselves that we will find peace and that we do not need to take on the burdens presented to us by others,
So resolving to notice when others attempt to distract you,
To burden you and knowing that you can silently refuse to take on what they would have you bear.
Through being mindful,
We can see more clearly how our thinking and feelings are triggered by our reactions to others and so we might become more adept at stopping ourselves from taking on what will not best serve us,
What will not bring us harmony and peace.
As we begin to embrace an inner peace within us,
We are much better able to radiate that peace for others around us and they in turn play their part in bringing peace to more and more and if we think it's hard to be at peace,
We might remember words of a Victorian preacher,
Charles Spurgeon.
Have you ever imagined what must be the stillness of the cabins in the depths of the seas,
A thousand fathoms beneath the bosom of the floods,
Where the mariner's bones lie undisturbed,
Where pearls are worn and corals that never see the light,
Where waves dash not and the intruding foot of the diver has never trodden,
So clear,
So calm is the peace,
The placid rest of the assured.
Or lift up your eyes to the stars,
See how they sleep on their golden couches,
Only opening their bright eyes to keep watch upon the stormless seas of ether and guard the solemn boundaries of the reign of peace.
Such is the peace and calm that can reign within us.
Take a moment perhaps to imagine being outside on a starry night,
Observing these very distant,
Beautiful stars,
Opening their bright eyes,
Flickering gently,
Shedding light in the darkness,
Quiet,
Still.
Taking a moment now to cherish the serenity,
The beauty of this moment and very gently allowing yourself to become alert to the environment where you are now,
Gently opening yourself to sounds,
Feelings,
A sense of the temperature and the brush of the air on your body and when you're ready,
Open your eyes.
