Meditation is meant to increase our awareness of something.
We know a little more than we did before.
Sometimes that something might be the breath,
Might be the body.
We often expect it to be something that is calming,
Peaceful,
And relaxing.
But life is not only pleasant sensations.
Life contains pain and suffering.
Though it is difficult,
It is important to increase our knowledge and awareness of topics that might make us uncomfortable or invite fear.
Take a breath.
Let's get into position.
Sitting cross-legged on a blanket with your spine lifted and straight,
Roll your shoulders back and down.
Relax your arms naturally.
And place your hands on your knees or in your lap.
Or lie on your back on a yoga mat or a blanket on the floor with your arms slightly away from your body with your palms facing up and with your legs stretched straight and relaxed.
Relax all the muscles in your body.
Soften your breath.
Close your eyes.
Take a slow breath in and a slow breath out.
Again,
Breathing in and breathing out.
Allow yourself to settle.
Now,
Notice the rise and fall of your chest.
Notice the simple fact that you are alive.
Breathing,
Existing,
Feeling.
Now gently bring to mind the truth that every living being experiences death.
Every person,
Every animal,
Every tree,
Every flower.
Everyone who has ever lived has also died.
Imagine the generations before you,
Ancestors,
Children,
Friends,
Teachers,
People who laughed,
People who cried,
People who loved deeply,
All eventually returned back to the earth.
Notice what emotions arise within you.
Fear,
Grief,
Resistance,
Acceptance.
Whatever appears is okay.
You do not need to force yourself to be peaceful.
Simply observe.
Now imagine yourself standing beside the ocean.
Waves rolling in.
Waves rolling out.
Birth,
Life,
Death.
A natural rhythm.
Not a punishment.
Simply part of being alive.
Sometimes fear softens when we stop fighting reality.
Sometimes peace arrives when we stop pretending we are separate from nature.
You are part of this cycle.
You belong to it.
And because life is temporary,
Every moment becomes more precious.
The people you love become more precious.
Each breath you take becomes more precious.
Each day that passes becomes more precious.
Allow gratitude to slowly grow in your chest.
Not because life lasts forever,
But because it does not.
May this meditation benefit all beings.
To those who are challenged with loneliness,
Disharmony,
Or financial pressures.
May their worries soften and their happiness increase.
When you're ready,
Slowly start to wiggle your fingers.
Wiggle your toes.
Give yourself a nice big stretch.
Open your eyes.
Breathe.
And bring your awareness back to the room.
