So as we begin this meditation,
We can use the ground as a place to begin,
But also to come back to whenever we need to,
A resource that can support the whole mind body to settle.
And in connecting with the sensations where the body meets the earth,
We also begin to connect with the qualities of the earth,
Noticing how it's just very straightforwardly receives the weight of our body.
It doesn't reject us,
Doesn't pick and choose,
Just takes us as we are.
Settling into the holding here,
The receiving,
Remembering that this ground is the very same ground that the Buddha walked on,
Sat on,
Stood on,
Slept on.
He was also in a body like our bodies,
Made of earth,
The living,
Breathing planet that we all share.
So we belong to the earth in the same way the Buddha belonged to the earth.
We are here in the same way he was here.
And we are supported by this ground in the same way he was supported,
Not just in terms of being held,
But also in terms of nutrients,
Sustenance,
The air we breathe,
The food we eat produced by the earth,
Connecting us intimately to the ground.
And then from this firm foundation,
Just again,
Feeling into the body rising into space,
Or if you're laying down,
Just hold the front of the body,
Softening into space and getting a sense of the natural length of the body,
The uprightness,
Really inviting a taking up of the space that you're in just now,
And having a sense here of space stretching in all directions from here,
From the body in this particular spot.
And in this way,
We can connect with the dignity of the posture,
That moment that the Buddha decided to sit down under the Bodhi tree and not move until he'd realized the truth.
So we can sit just like that,
Or we can lay with that intention to be here fully.
And then beginning to connect with the central channel,
This channel of energy stretching from navel to crown,
Just in front of the spine,
Deep blue in color,
Full of infinite space.
So just as there's spaciousness outside the body,
We can also connect with the spaciousness within.
Breathing along the central channel,
Smoothing it out with each breath.
So the central channel can give us a sense of inner space.
And then we can also begin to imagine that we're in a blue sky.
So just imagining you're sitting in a deep blue sky full of space,
Full of potential.
It's also within you.
And out of the sky blooms a lotus.
And upon the lotus sits the Buddha.
Just taking your time to imagine the Buddha appearing.
And again,
Just taking your time to also notice the effect this has on your body.
How does it affect you imagining the Buddha sitting here with you?
The Buddha sitting perfectly still.
Completely at ease.
Yet full of energy.
Fully present and available to us.
Deeply kind and sensitive.
So he's embodying all the qualities,
All the good things that we deeply long for.
And qualities that the world so desperately needs.
So the Buddha didn't just wake up for himself.
He decided the best thing he could do is share,
Or at least try to share his realization.
And we are the beneficiaries of that decision all these years later.
So we are blessed.
We are blessed by his efforts,
By what he taught,
By the qualities he embodied,
And the inspiration that he passed on.
Just beginning to really open to those many qualities.
If you'd like,
You could imagine a white light streaming down from the Buddha's body into your body.
Allowing yourself to be fully blessed by his presence,
His qualities.
Basking in his glow of goodness.
And again,
Just noticing any effect this has on your heart,
Mind.
Receiving the blessings of the Buddha.
Imagine these blessings so strong that they burn up anything that's getting in the way of your awakening.
Any boundaries or barriers just dissolving away in the light of the Buddha's love.
If you'd like,
You could imagine that you're not alone in this receiving of blessings.
You could also invite in others,
Friends,
Practitioners,
Family,
Co-workers,
Neighbors,
People you bring to your metta bhavana practice.
Also here with us receiving the blessings.
And even beyond that,
Further,
All of humanity and all living beings.
The effect of the Buddha's awakening rippling out endlessly.
Touching all.
All going for refuge alongside one another.
And slowly just allowing the light to return back to the Buddha's body.
Allowing the Buddha himself to slowly dissolve into the blue sky.
Lotus flower also dissolving.
Returning to the ground and the contact here.
The sense of your own body,
Its shape,
Its length,
Uprightness.
The breath coming and going.
The central channel as a resource holding us here.
All the different sensations,
Thoughts,
Emotions just passing through.
Absorbing the benefits of the practice.
So for the last minute or so,
Just an invitation to just completely drop any effort that you're making.
You could put the hands palm up in the lap.
You might even open the eyes with a soft focus.
Imagining all the pores of the skin open,
Receptive,
All the senses open.
Hearing,
Sight,
Taste,
Smell,
Physical sensations,
Thoughts,
Emotions.
Just sitting in presence.
With all that's here.
And I'll be ringing a bell to mark the end of this practice.
Feel free to move,
Stretch,
Caress,
Rub,
Rotate,
Stretch anything.
As you support the body to transition out of the practice.
