Welcome.
Wherever you are,
Settle into a comfortable position.
You have chosen to be here,
To step onto the path of the compassionate warrior.
Close your eyes,
If it feels right.
Let your breath deepen,
Naturally,
And simply arrive.
Feel the weight of your body,
Supported by the ground.
Notice the air around you.
The quiet in the spaces between sound.
You are safe here.
You are home here.
The path of the warrior is not about fighting others.
It begins by facing yourself,
The tension in your shoulders,
The stories in your mind,
The ache in your heart.
Without judgment.
Without running.
Now,
Take a deep breath in,
Hold it,
And exhale slowly.
Exhale.
Once more,
Inhale,
And release.
Feel your breath,
Like a steady river,
Flowing through you,
Cleansing.
Now,
Quietly,
Repeat in your mind.
I am here.
I am strong.
I am compassionate.
Again,
I am here.
In this silence,
Feel your own strength rising from within,
The quiet fire in your chest,
The stillness of your mind,
The path of the compassionate warrior.
Take one more deep breath.
Feel your body.
Feel your presence.
And when you're ready,
Gently open your eyes.
This,
Is the American Lotus Way.