Dear friends.
In this meditation we are going to concentrate on simply relaxing and being present.
We try to experience the joy of the present moment.
And we'll see if we can manage to put the past into a box marked the past.
Close the box.
And lever to one side.
We begin by making sure that we're sitting comfortably.
Whether in a chair.
On a cushion.
Or you might even be sitting cross-legged on the floor.
You might like to place your hands on your lap.
With the palms facing upward.
The only direction really is to make sure that you're comfortable.
Let's begin by taking a mindful look around the space we are in.
This is not for the purpose of noticing that we need to change the paint.
I thought we should move around the furniture.
This is just an opportunity to notice with gratitude.
The objects that surround us.
We'll have a one minute pause now.
To enable us to look around in gratitude.
Welcome back.
And now it's time to relax even more.
You might like to close your eyes,
But only if that feels comfortable.
Take one slow,
Conscious breath in through your nose.
And let it out slowly and fully.
Through your mouth.
I think I can safely say that most of us breathe only very shallowly.
So this opening bread may encourage us to make better use of our loans.
Now we'll allow the bread to return to its normal pattern.
But maybe just a little deeper than usual.
Breathing in.
I am aware that I am breathing in.
Breathing out.
I am aware.
That I'm breathing out.
We'll have another pause now.
This is to allow ourselves to be present.
Paying attention only to the breath.
Breathing in and out without any strain.
Has your mind wandered?
No worries.
Just gently bring your attention back to the breath.
Breathing in.
I notice that I am breathing in.
Breathing out,
I notice that I am breathing out.
Welcome back again.
There is nothing that any of us need to do right now.
There is nowhere we need to go.
We are welcome here,
In this present moment,
Just as we are.
No problems to solve.
Leaving aside any concerns about the past.
Any worries about the future.
Welcome to this wonderful present moment.
You have arrived.
And just think of how wonderful it is to arrive.
To be here.
Not just in the room you're sitting in.
The wonderful thing is to come into awareness of your existence right here in this present moment.
In the now.
This wonderful present moment.
And when you stop to think about it.
What is life but a succession of present moments?
In a certain sense.
The past doesn't exist anymore.
All the past moments have come and gone,
Each in their own time.
I'm sure we've all been very anxious about them when they were the know.
And that is understandable.
These were the circumstances we were faced with.
The circumstances we were living through just then.
I'm sure most of the time,
We tried to do our best.
Just as we try to do our best in every present moment.
But when these fleeting passing moments are gone,
They are gone.
There's nothing we can do about them.
The question is,
What can we do now to shake off any worries that we might have concerning the past?
One thing for sure.
We can all learn lessons from the past.
Lessons about things that worked.
And maybe more important.
Lessons about some things that didn't work.
We won't go there again.
But since the past cannot be changed.
What is the point of fretting about it?
Neglecting the present with its possibilities.
By troubling ourselves about what cannot be changed.
The best thing is to simply learn the lessons and move on.
I'd like us to have another pause now.
This is to allow us to really accept that the past is the past.
Let's see if we can let it be.
Let's try to set aside any troubling concerns that we may have about the past.
So that we can better apply ourselves.
To do what needs to be done in the present.
So as to make the future better.
To help us on the way,
I have a quote for you.
This is from a New York Times bestselling author.
Mandy Hale.
Once you make the decision to move on.
Don't look back.
Your destiny will never be found in the rearview mirror.
Words there from Mandy Hale.
And now,
Our pause.
There are two reasons for the pause.
The first to allow us to place the past into a container marked the past.
And then to close the container firmly and leave it closed.
Welcome back.
I hope this meditation has brought you into the present moment with all its possibilities.
Most of all,
If you have had any concerns or worries about the past.
I hope these thoughts and reflections will have helped put your mind at ease.
Every new day is an opportunity to begin again.
Armed with the lessons which life has taught us so far.
I'd like to end this meditation by offering you some loving kindness blessings.
You might like to place your hand on your chest to receive these prayers for your well-being.
May you find rest in the breath.
You're breathing in and you're breathing out.
Not in the last breath.
Not in the next breath.
But in the breath that you receive in each present moment.
May you be released from the worries of yesterday.
May any concerns about tomorrow be eased by actions which you will take in this present moment.
May you have the wisdom to welcome the gift of this moment exactly as it is.
This present moment is here.
Right in front of you.
How can it be any different from what it is?
May you be free from the idea that somewhere else would be better.
The thought that some other time would be easier.
May you find gratitude and happiness in the gift of each present moment.
And finally.
.
.
May you be happy.
May you be content.
May you be open in every moment.
To giving and receiving love and kindness.
Namaste.
