Welcome to Meditation with Social Justice.
My name is Jerry and I'm on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales in Australia.
Thank you so much for joining me today.
Life is a rare and precious gift.
To breathe,
To feel and to witness the beauty of this world is an absolute blessing.
Yet many people struggle through hardship,
Inequality and injustice.
By sitting in stillness we can cultivate compassion not only for ourselves but also for those who struggle.
This practice reminds us that our individual healing is tied to the healing of our whole human family.
And that when we nurture justice,
Kindness and equity in the world,
We honour the very gift of being human.
And so today in Meditation for Social Justice,
We're going to concentrate on racism and discrimination in a topic called Living the Life as an Outsider.
So before we begin,
I'd like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we gather today.
I pay my respect to the Gumbaynggirr Nation of the Mid North Coast of New South Wales in Australia whose deep connection to land,
Waters and culture has endured for countless generations.
I extend my respect to all Indigenous,
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,
Elders,
Past and present.
So let's begin.
Find a position that feels comfortable for you.
Comfort is crucial in meditation.
Relax into that position.
Place your hands into your lap or on your knees.
Let your shoulders soften and make sure that your spine is upright.
Let your breath come and go.
Notice your breath as you gently breathe in and out.
Now close your eyes and let's take a nice long slow deep breath in.
And hold it.
And let's do that again.
Let's take a nice long slow deep breath in.
And let it go.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,
Migrants and refugees often experience racism at a higher rate than the general population.
Racist attitudes and behaviours often become more pronounced and less veiled according to the current affairs in all of society.
At the heart of racism is the failure to recognise that we are all inherently equal and valuable.
So that is where we need to start in addressing racism.
A recent study by the Australian Human Rights Commission identified that 20% of Australians have experienced racism in the form of race hate talk and about 5% have been attacked because of their race.
7 in 10 students report having experienced racism during their childhood.
So as we begin to meditate today we will use the Sanskrit mantra Sukhino Bhavantu which means May there be happiness.
Sukhino Bhavantu Let's say that together out loud.
Sukhino Bhavantu Sukhino Bhavantu Sukhino Bhavantu Let's say it quietly to ourselves.
Sukhino Bhavantu So in our meditation today you will hear three bells.
The first bell will tell us that we have started.
The second one tells us that we are half way through.
And the third bell tells us that we have nearly finished.
When you hear the third bell just continue to sit comfortably with your eyes closed and I will come in and lead you through to the end.
Sukhino Bhavantu Sukhino Bhavantu Just continue to keep saying your mantra.
Sukhino Bhavantu Just continue to keep saying your mantra.
Sukhino Bhavantu May there be happiness for people living the life as an outsider.
Sukhino Bhavantu It's time to finish your mantra.
Just continue to sit comfortably with your eyes closed.
And let's take a nice long slow deep breath in.
And let that go.
And now let's make an intention.
A statement that we can send to the universe that may be able to help people who are experiencing racism and discrimination at the moment.
My intention is I send happiness to all people living as an outsider.
What you're always going to be.
And when you're ready place your hands on your heart and we're going to breathe this intention into our heart.
So let's take a nice long slow deep breath in and breathe that intention into our heart.
And hold it in our heart and feel it move in our heart.
Feel the ripple in our heart.
And now let's breathe that intention out into the universe.
And the universe will pick up our intention and send it to all parts of the planet.
And I set you this challenge for this week.
How can we challenge our own ideas and language around others?
From a tiny seaside hamlet on the mid north coast of New South Wales this is Gerry.
Thank you so much for joining me today.
Have a great week ahead.
