Welcome to this Universal Mind Meditation.
This is a meditation for people like me who sometimes get caught up in the details and just need a way to zoom out and appreciate the bigger picture.
For repeated practice of this meditation you can train your mind to not get caught up in the details and to observe your thoughts from a broader perspective,
Fostering a sense of inner peace and tranquility.
So let's begin.
Start by finding a comfortable position,
A space where you can simply be away from the day's demands.
As you get comfortable notice how does it feel to release the world outside just for a little while.
So settling down in a space where you can just be,
Where the world outside doesn't ask anything of you,
Whether you're sitting on a soft chair,
Resting on the floor or reclining comfortably,
Allow your body to find its own perfect position.
Feel your muscles relax,
Your joints loosen,
Every part of your body surrendering to the comfort and tranquility of the moment.
Now close your eyes if you haven't done so already.
Let the sensation of a deep breath fill you in and out.
How does that feel,
The sensation of the breath in and out?
And as the rhythm of your breath begins to find its own pace you might become aware of certain thoughts.
They may remind you of the clouds in the sky constantly changing,
Don't they?
As you imagine your mind as an expansive sky you could notice each thought just like a cloud forming,
Existing and then drifting away.
And you might wonder could these clouds,
These thoughts ever be more than passing visitors in the vast sky of the mind?
Just as a cloud doesn't define the sky,
Could a thought ever truly define you?
If you find your mind being drawn into a particular cloud you may find it interesting to observe how easily you can bring your attention back to the sky.
You may be curious about how it feels to just let those clouds drift by.
Now you might want to pick a cloud,
Any cloud in your mind's sky.
This cloud represents a thought,
A detail you might be holding on to.
As you focus on it notice its shape,
Its density,
Its color.
Begin to pull your focus back,
Zooming out.
Notice how the cloud begins to shrink and the sky around it expands.
Can you feel the perspective shifting?
How does it feel to move away from the details and towards the broader view?
Continue to zoom out until the once detailed cloud is now just a tiny part of a vast beautiful sky.
In this expansive view thoughts are just a part of the grandeur,
Contributing but not defining.
And isn't it interesting how as you continue this practice you might begin to feel a sense of spaciousness.
An enveloping tranquility isn't it?
It's like the sky-like nature of your own mind,
Vast and untroubled.
In this expanded perspective your thoughts,
Your clouds continue their dance.
You can observe them,
Appreciate them,
But you aren't caught up in them.
They are part of the sky,
But they are not the sky.
Breathe in this spaciousness,
This sense of expansiveness.
Is it comforting?
Liberating?
Take some time to bask in this tranquility,
This sense of expansiveness.
Allow it to become a part of you because this is your true nature.
You are not the passing clouds,
You are the eternal sky.
Take as long as you need in this tranquil space.
When you're ready,
And only when you're ready,
You might begin to bring your awareness back to your physical surroundings.
Back from the expanse of the sky,
Through the dance of the clouds,
To the rhythm of your breath.
Feel the sensations returning,
The feel of your body,
The sounds around you.
As you feel the world around you coming back into your awareness,
As you feel the world around you coming back into focus in just a moment,
Remember that you can return to this expanse of the sky at any time.
Now noticing the world around you.
The rustle of leaves,
The chirping of birds,
The distant hum of life continuing on,
All slowly regain their place in your consciousness.
Sit for a while,
Acclimating to this renewed awareness.
Allow the vastness of the sky you've experienced to gently seep into your world.
Notice how the world is a little less hurried,
A little more serene.
Remember the clouds and the sky.
Remember how the details of the clouds contributed to the grandeur of the sky,
But did not define it.
Remember how,
Despite the dance of the clouds,
The sky remained tranquil and untouched.
As you rise and prepare to step back into the rhythm of life in just a moment,
Carry this tranquility with you.
Allow this broad perspective,
This sense of spaciousness to guide your thoughts and actions.
Now,
Feel your eyes clearing as though they're being washed with fresh water,
As you gently flutter your eyes open and return to an awareness of your surroundings.
And know that,
Just as you've done now,
You can now return to your present state.
Now,
You can return to this tranquil space any time you wish.
It is always there,
Within you,
Ready to offer you a perspective beyond the details,
Beyond the clouds.
Whenever you need,
Pause and breathe.
Remember the sky.
Remember the clouds.
Remember your true nature,
Vast and serene,
Capable of observing without being entangled.
Now,
I wish you a peaceful day.
And remember,
This broader vantage point is always available to you.
No matter the storm,
No matter the clouds,
You can always return to the broad expanse of your sky-like mind,
Where you can observe,
Understand,
And let go with ease.
I wish you well.
