Hi,
My name is Karen.
I hope you're well today.
This meditation is offered as a way to begin your day,
Setting the tone,
If you will,
To create the conditions to meet whatever challenges await you with grace and humility.
The meditation,
Known as the gassho,
Was created by the Japanese Buddhist monk,
Makao Osu.
Osu was the creator of the spiritual practice known as Reiki,
Which is practiced as an alternative therapy for the treatment of physical,
Emotional,
And mental diseases.
The Japanese word gassho is defined as the gesture itself of bringing both hands together in front of the heart,
With the fingers straight and the palms pressed together.
In the Buddhist teachings,
The gesture is an expression of gratitude and symbolizes our interconnectedness with each other.
Holding the hands in front of the face,
As it's practiced in Buddhism,
It signifies that the giver and the receiver of the bow are not two,
But one,
Symbolizing non-duality.
But it's more than a pose.
Within the Dharma,
It appreciates the truth about life.
By placing our right and left hand together,
Each hand moves in opposite directions to find one purpose.
The gassho meditation consists of five phrases,
Offering the five principles of Reiki.
It is a simple and effective way of calming the mind and expanding our energy.
It can be used daily to either begin or reset the mind and heart space.
I'm going to offer five separate phrases.
These are the five principles.
After each of the phrases,
There will be a period of silence to allow for you to comfortably repeat the words,
Either silently or aloud.
I will repeat these principles three times,
Separated by a single bell.
And the meditation will be complete with the sounding of three bells,
Hopefully to help seed their true meaning into your body,
Mind,
And heart space.
You can do this meditation sitting in a chair or on a cushion,
Taking a brief moment to be in stillness.
By placing an energetic awareness on your breath or the sensation of your hands touching,
Or you might bring awareness to the point where the two middle fingers meet.
So if you would like to join me,
Arrange yourself in a comfortable position.
Sitting with your spine erect,
But relaxed.
Allow your eyes to close and bring your hands together in this prayer position.
For this practice,
Place the hands in front of your heart.
Breathe in deeply and exhale completely.
Let us begin.
Just for today,
I will not worry.
Just for today,
I will not anger.
Just for today,
I will be grateful for all my many blessings.
Just for today,
I will do my inner work with honesty and integrity.
Just for today,
I will be kind to all living beings,
Including myself.
Just for today,
I will not worry.
Just for today,
I will not anger.
Just for today,
I will be grateful for all my many blessings.
Just for today,
I will do my inner work with honesty and integrity.
Just for today,
I will be kind to all living beings,
Including myself.
Just for today,
I will not worry.
Just for today,
I will not anger.
Just for today,
I will be grateful for all my many blessings.
Just for today,
I will do my inner work with honesty and integrity.
Just for today,
I will be kind to all living beings,
Including myself.
To end this meditation,
Bring your attention to your body,
Your hands and feet.
Take a few deep breaths in and out.
And when you're ready,
Gently flutter your eyes open.
Thank you very much for joining me today.
Until our next sit,
Namaste.
