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 It might be the body and we might expect it to be something that is calming,
Peaceful,
And relaxing.
But life is not about only the good things.
Life contains pain and suffering.
Though it is difficult.
It is important to turn our attention to topics that might make us uncomfortable or invite fear.
We'll take a breath together.
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 lying 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,
Stretch straight out and relaxed.
Relax all the muscles in your body.
Relax the brow,
Release the jaw.
Soften your breath.
Close your eyes.
Now bring your awareness to time.
This human construct.
Time moving.
Always changing.
Never stopping.
Grains of sand slowly slipping through our fingers.
This is how life moves.
Minute by minute.
Hour by hour.
Day by day.
You cannot hold time.
You cannot return to yesterday.
Begin to notice your body.
Perhaps how your body has changed with time Your thoughts have changed.
Your relationships have changed Everything changes.
Nothing stays the same.
Imagine yourself sitting beside a river.
Water continuously flows.
It's never the same water.
Life is like this river.
Moving.
.
.
Changing.
Flowing forward.
Sometimes we suffer because we try to hold on to things that naturally change.
We want them to stay just as they are right now.
Youth.
Comfort relationships.
Identity.
Take a long,
Slow inhale.
What if impermanence is not just painful?
What if impermanence is also what makes healing possible?
What makes growth possible.
What makes forgiveness possible?
Because things change,
Suffering can change too.
Because things change,
Difficult seasons eventually pass.
Because life is temporary,
This moment matters.
Imagine the people you love Imagine speaking more honestly.
Loving more openly forgiving more quickly.
Living more intentionally.
Let the thought of impermanence wake you up.
Not frighten you.
Wake you up.
If everything is always changing.
How do I want to live?
Who do I want to be?
To those who are hungry or thirsty.
May they have food,
Clean water,
And nourishment.
May all beings experience peace.
When you're ready.
Slowly start to wiggle your fingers,
Wiggle your toes,
Give yourself a nice big stretch,
Or rock yourself gently back and forth Open your eyes.
Breathe.
And bring your awareness back to the room.
