Dear friends,
Welcome to this short period of quiet reflection where we give thanks for those who have loved us,
Where we bask in the happy remembrance of loving times,
And where we resolve to offer as much support to others as we have received ourselves.
So can I ask you to begin by getting yourself into a comfortable position on your chair,
Maybe on your cushion,
Maybe lying down if that's your preferred way of settling into meditation,
Whatever feels good for you.
Just close your eyes now and become aware of the sounds around you,
The most obvious near sounds,
And then moving out to the more distant sounds.
If you are in a very quiet place,
Just become aware of the silence,
The absence of sound.
Let's sit with that attention to sound for a little while.
If the mind wanders,
No worries,
Just come back to awareness of whatever sounds you happen to hear.
An opening thought.
For these few moments we let go.
For these few moments we let go of our anxieties,
Our fears,
Our anger,
Our self-doubts,
Our regrets,
Our petty grievances and our distractions.
For these few moments we allow our hearts and minds to light our way to peace and serenity.
For these few moments.
I'd like you to cast your mind back to a time when you felt the most loved and supported in all your life.
This may have been in childhood,
Or perhaps it was in later life,
Or looking for some period in your life that could be described as a wonderful time of happiness and love.
Let's give ourselves a little time to enjoy this recollection.
Welcome back.
Next,
Let's hold that feeling of comfort and love and happiness in our minds for another little while.
This time,
Not so much thinking of the person or persons concerned,
But simply basking in the recollection and warmth of the experience of love.
Just imagine yourself in the most comfortable armchair,
Basking in that remembered happiness.
Let's enjoy a little while thinking back on that.
Welcome back again.
Recalling that wonderful feeling of being so loved,
Can we approach the next day in such a way that we are open to the needs of the people around us,
Really paying attention to them as they speak to us,
And seeing them as people who,
Like ourselves,
Need love and caring?
Now we're not going to physically kiss and hug everyone we come across,
But in our own circle there may be opportunities to be loving and present.
Let's resolve to face today and tomorrow in a way that leaves other people experiencing a feeling of being cared for and loved.
We know what it feels like.
We've been thinking back on it just now.
It feels good.
So let us be the source of that feeling in other people.
Let us cause something that they can look back on as we've just done.
Let's pause to see how we might try to put this into effect.
Welcome back.
Let's now take a few deep breaths as we come back into this present moment,
Noticing breathing in and breathing out in the here and now,
And how that breathing in and out makes us feel present and connected.
A closing thought.
As you prepare to leave this quiet space,
Pack away a piece of this time in your heart.
Wrap it carefully like a precious stone.
Carry it with you through the joys and sorrows of your tomorrows.
Let its gentle glow strengthen you,
Warm you.
May it remind you of all that is good and true.
May it remind you of the many people who strive for high ideals.
Let these reflections be your inspiration to spread love in the world.
Namaste.
Thank you.
Thank you.
