This next meditation is a form of Centering Prayer or Passage Meditation.
Different traditions have utilized this as a way to contemplate and absorb the wisdom and teachings of different prayers.
Today,
I'll use Lao Tzu's prayer,
The Mother of All Things from the Tao.
What I'm going to do is to recite this a series of seven times.
With each time through,
I'll slow myself a bit.
And what I ask that you do is sit simply,
Quietly,
Hands in your lap,
And breathe.
Bring your attention to the space between your eyes and allow the words to settle.
My experience in doing this with myself is often that one line will come forth and be my teaching for that day.
This is my help for you.
Alright,
Let's begin.
The universe had a beginning called The Mother of All Things.
Once you have found the mother,
You can know her children.
Having known the children,
Hold tightly to the mother.
Your whole life will be preserved from peril.
Open up the openings.
Multiply your affairs.
Your whole life will become a burden.
Those who see the small are called clear-headed.
Those who hold to gentleness are called strong.
Use the light.
Come home to your true nature.
Don't cause yourself injury.
This is known as seizing truth.
The universe had a beginning called The Mother of All Things.
Once you have found the mother,
You can know her children.
Having known the children,
Hold tightly to the mother.
Your whole life will be preserved from peril.
Open up the openings.
Multiply your affairs.
Your whole life will become a burden.
Those who see the small are called clear-headed.
Those who hold to gentleness are called strong.
Use the light.
Come home to your true nature.
Don't cause yourself injury.
This is known as seizing truth.
The universe had a beginning called The Mother of All Things.
Once you have found the mother,
You can know her children.
Having known the children,
Hold tightly to the mother.
Your whole life will be preserved from peril.
Open up the openings.
Multiply your affairs.
Your whole life will become a burden.
Those who see the small are called clear-headed.
Those who hold to gentleness are called strong.
Use the light.
Come home to your true nature.
Don't cause yourself injury.
This is known as seizing truth.
The universe had a beginning called The Mother of All Things.
Once you have found the mother,
You can know her children.
Having known the children,
Hold tightly to the mother.
Your whole life will be preserved from peril.
Open up the openings.
Multiply your affairs.
Your whole life will become a burden.
Those who see the small are called clear-headed.
Those who hold to gentleness are called strong.
Use the light.
Come home to your true nature.
Don't cause yourself injury.
This is known as seizing truth.
The universe had a beginning called The Mother of All Things.
Once you have found the mother,
You can know her children.
Having known the children,
Hold tightly to the mother.
Your whole life will be preserved from peril.
Open up the openings.
Multiply your affairs.
Your whole life will become a burden.
Those who see the small are called clear-headed.
Those who hold to gentleness are called strong.
Use the light.
Come home to your true nature.
Don't cause yourself injury.
This is known as seizing truth.
The universe had a beginning called The Mother of All Things.
Once you have found the mother,
You can know her children.
Having known the children,
Hold tightly to the mother.
Your whole life will be preserved from peril.
Open up the openings.
Multiply your affairs.
Your whole life will become a burden.
Those who see the small are called clear-headed.
Those who hold to gentleness are called strong.
Use the light.
Come home to your true nature.
Don't cause yourself injury.
This is known as seizing truth.
The universe had a beginning called The Mother of All Things.
Once you have found the mother,
You can know her children.
Having known the children,
Hold tightly to the mother.
Your whole life will be preserved from peril.
Open up the openings.
Multiply your affairs.
Your whole life will become a burden.
Those who see the small are called clear-headed.
Those who hold to gentleness are called strong.
Use the light.
Come home to your true nature.
Do not cause yourself injury.
This is known as seizing truth.
Sealed in trust and faith.
Amen.
