Welcome,
Friends.
In this meditation,
We'll explore the concept of samskara,
The habitual patterns and routines that we formed over years of our working life,
And then introduce the Sanskrit word moksha as our mantra today.
Moksha,
Which means liberation or release,
Will help us let go of the schedules,
Roles,
And identities that we no longer need.
So let's begin by finding a comfortable seat.
And if it feels comfortable,
Go ahead and gently close your eyes or just lower your gaze.
Take a slow,
Deep breath in and exhale softly.
One more time.
Inhale and exhale.
Let those shoulders soften.
With each breath,
Invite your body to settle.
There's nowhere else you need to be,
Nothing you need to accomplish.
This time is for you.
Bring your attention to the natural rhythm of your breath.
Then begin to notice the sensation of breathing in your body.
Feel the rise and fall of the chest or belly as you breathe in and out.
Or maybe notice the air going in through the nose and the warmth as it leaves.
And now,
As the breath steadies,
Allow your awareness to gently scan your body.
Notice the feet and legs releasing any tension,
The hips and lower back soften,
The abdomen relaxes,
The chest opens gently,
The shoulders melt away from the ears,
The arms,
Hands,
Neck,
Jaw,
Release,
Let your forehead smooth.
Now imagine you're standing at the edge of a well-worn path.
This path represents the old routines of your working life,
The familiar schedules,
The repeated tasks,
The predictable patterns.
In yogic philosophy,
Those patterns are called samskaras,
Habitual grooves shaped by years of repetition.
They once served a purpose,
They carried you forward,
And now their work is complete.
Take a moment to acknowledge this path with gratitude.
It supported you,
It shaped you,
It brought learning and experience.
And now you are free to step beyond it.
As you breathe in,
Feel a sense of the vastness of the world in front of you.
This is the freedom of retirement,
Freedom from the ruts of time clocks and expectations,
Freedom to choose how and where your energy flows,
Freedom to create new rhythms that nourish you.
In Sanskrit,
The word moksha means liberation,
Release,
Inner freedom from old patterns.
We'll use this word as a quiet mantra.
So with your next inhale,
Silently say moksha.
With your exhale,
Feel release.
Inhale,
Moksha.
Exhale,
Just let it go.
Each repetition invites more spaciousness,
The freedom to wake up and choose,
The freedom to shape your days with intention,
The freedom to be present with your life as it unfolds.
Moksha.
Continue breathing with the mantra moksha,
Liberation from old structures,
Moksha,
Freedom to respond rather than react,
Moksha,
Space to be curious,
Creative,
To rest and to grow,
Moksha.
Continue repeating this mantra silently to yourself until you hear the sound of a bell.
Moksha.
Allow the word to dissolve into silence.
Take a deep breath in and let everything go.
Begin to gently bring awareness back into your body.
And when it feels right,
Slowly open your eyes,
Coming back to the space around you,
Taking with you the sense of liberation,
This freedom from old samskaras,
And this openness to the new chapter before you.
Namaste.
