Greetings,
Noble soul.
Welcome to a guided meditation on mindful breathing,
Rooted in the ancient technique of anapanasati.
Today,
We will explore the importance of independence from the results of our actions and the emotions associated with them.
Let's begin.
Find a comfortable,
Quiet place where you can sit on any surface,
Preferably semi-firm or firm.
It could be a chair,
Or you can sit in a half-lotus or lotus position.
Close your eyes.
Give yourself the opportunity to fully relax and focus under your nostrils on your breath.
And yes,
Throughout this meditation,
We will have to keep our backs straight.
And today,
We will have to sit still throughout the entire meditation.
So if you happen to move,
Consider yourself lost.
How long will you last,
Dear friend?
Immerse yourself in the awareness of your sensations.
Feel present in your body.
Feel how your still body touches the surface on which it resides.
In addition to complete stillness of the body,
Absorbing what inner freedom is,
Try to be attentive to your breathing,
Remembering it.
When you inhale,
Be aware of your inhale.
When you exhale,
Be aware of your exhale.
Continue to track your breath throughout the meditation in this way.
Feel how inhales and exhales naturally pass through your nostrils.
Allow yourself to be present in the moment,
Fully immersing yourself in I AM.
Direct all your attention under your nostrils and keep it there until the end of the meditation.
When you inhale,
Be aware of your inhale.
When you exhale,
Be aware of your exhale.
Continue to track your breath throughout the meditation in this way.
Feel how inhales and exhales naturally pass through your nostrils.
Allow yourself to be present in the moment,
Fully immersing yourself in I AM.
Direct all your attention under your nostrils and keep it there until the end of the meditation.
Throughout this meditation,
Strive to sit still,
Maintaining an upright posture,
And regularly return to your breath,
Observing how inhales smoothly transition into exhales,
And exhales gently transition into inhales.
The ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi,
Traditionally considered the author of the Tao Te Ching,
Offers wisdom that aligns with the idea of being in the world,
But not of it.
He says,
Be content with what you have,
Rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
The whole world belongs to you.
Laozi's teachings focus on simplicity,
Humility,
And the Tao,
Or the way,
Which is the natural order of the universe.
He encourages finding harmony with the Tao by understanding our place in the world,
Without being dominated by material desires or societal pressures,
Suggesting that true peace comes from within.
Today we discuss Viragya,
The concept of detachment from the consequences of one's actions and emotions.
A straightforward indicator of Viragya is the capacity to stay composed,
No matter the result of an endeavor.
How can one gauge their level of Viragya?
It is reflected in one's own response,
Or the response of others to the outcomes.
Consider someone who maintains their composure,
Unaffected by success or failure.
This exemplifies true Viragya.
Such an individual separates themselves from the repercussions of their deeds and the emotions tied to those results.
We often judge our life's triumphs or setbacks by the outcomes we achieve.
Yet,
The Bhagavad Gita informs us that everything we pursue is transient.
Lasting contentment is found by those who do not linger on the unfavorable,
But maintain a focus on the favorable.
The measure of a person's life is not solely in the tally of successful outcomes.
Indeed,
There may be times when all seems to go well,
But eventually a point arrives when things do not go as planned.
This is a natural occurrence,
Influenced by shifts in celestial positions,
Situations and karma.
If one bases their sense of achievement and joy only on positive outcomes,
Like periods of opulence or material gain,
There will come a time when these are absent.
In such moments they might question,
Has my life been successful?
Only to discover their sense of hope and happiness has dissipated.
It's crucial to understand that genuine happiness is not reliant on material success,
But springs from the depths of one's inner state and perspective on life.
The Bhagavad Gita states that all material delights and sensory objects are fleeting and not everlasting.
To grasp the transience of the physical form,
We must train our minds with discernment and detachment.
What is the body but a collection of waste,
Flesh and blood?
It is simply what we decorate with fine garments and jewels.
We should look beyond these superficial layers to perceive the true splendor and radiance within,
Which is the higher consciousness.
Nothing here is lasting.
These cannot provide enduring joy or fulfillment.
This realization is meant to prompt us to see that our chase for seemingly everlasting values like love,
Happiness,
Health and youth is quite ephemeral and holds a deeper significance.
Material items and events certainly have their place in our lives.
They can provoke through disappointments,
Leading to contemplation on each action,
Its consequence,
Or the failure to achieve what we desire.
Yet,
Through these challenges and a sequence of letdowns,
One might come to recognize that they have been heading in the wrong direction all along.
They start to appreciate that the true essence of life is found in their state of consciousness,
In the inner realm with which they are born,
Live and pass away.
Consider the scenario of being stranded in the open ocean with monstrous waves crashing over you,
Threatening to drag you into the depths.
As you fight to keep your head above water,
The reality of your situation is dark and unforgiving.
With no land in sight,
Your survival hinges on your ability to stay afloat and signal for help.
It is with this same intensity and pressing need that one should pursue communion with God,
The Eternal Source.
Be acutely aware of the profound emptiness that pervades without this sacred connection.
Let the urgency of this pursuit ignite your spirit,
Compelling you to seek the Divine Presence with every fiber of your being at every possible moment.
Paramahansa Yogananda said,
The secret of happiness is to find joy in what you are doing.
Allow yourself to be imbued with this wisdom and realize that true joy and happiness emanate from within,
From our consciousness.
Let your breath remind you of the impermanence and transience of all things.
Now,
Let us continue our meditation in silence,
Listening to our breath,
Allowing ourselves to be in the moment.
Continue to observe your breath until the end of the audio session.
Only then will you develop true tranquility and inner peace.
