Welcome to this podcast where I'd like to talk about becoming places of peace for those around us.
Many of us will now know someone who's fallen ill with coronavirus,
And a growing number of us are facing or living with the pain of losing a loved one or someone we know.
Just a few days ago,
I learnt that a lovely man I'd worked with for several years on projects for schools had sadly died after receiving treatment in hospital for two weeks.
Each day,
We're being presented with stories of loss and fear,
But also with stories of self-forgetful compassion,
The bravery and dedication of first responders,
Health and care workers,
And the countless small acts of kindness in local communities and between strangers.
I think there are hopeful signs of a growing awareness of the need for community,
A growing communion in our shared humanity.
Both the moments of pain and the moments of hope give us occasion to pause,
Pause and acknowledge the gift of our life and the relationships that give our lives meaning and purpose.
So in this podcast,
I want to highlight relationship and suggest two simple practices to help us be more present in our relationships,
To become places of peace for those around us.
Meditation is about the quiet,
Steady work of simply being here,
Fully present to the gift of our life,
Which means it's also about the quiet,
Steady work of being present with and present for each other.
Coronavirus is shining a light on those aspects of our culture which encourage collaboration,
Friendship and relationship over rivalry,
Competition and separateness.
It's no longer so easy to see others as largely or entirely separate from us,
Whether this other is another person,
A group of people or the environment.
We're being tipped into a radically different way of seeing and encountering the world.
People are becoming increasingly aware that we and all things exist within and through a network of relationships,
That we are interdependent,
Composite,
The result of numerous causes and conditions coming together each moment.
Using the Christian parable of the vine to illustrate the point,
You might say that the vine leaves,
Which often prefer to imagine they are in some way separate from the vine which gives them life,
Are having to accept that the notion of any fundamental separateness is completely false.
We are not separate.
All that we have and are is given,
Born in and from relationship.
We are,
As it's been well said,
We-centric.
We are collaborations in action,
Part of an interrelated,
Interdependent whole and in this sense connected to everything,
Which means that our actions have a direct impact,
Beneficial or otherwise,
On this whole,
Which is why meditation,
The quiet,
Steady work of being here,
Present with and present for each other,
Is so important.
The practice is not about mastering techniques.
It's about relationship.
It's not about advancing anywhere.
It's about simply being here,
Which is always being here together.
And it's not about gaining anything.
It's about releasing everything that prevents us seeing what is right here,
Seeing who is next to us.
The much-loved spiritual guide,
Elder Thaddeus of Serbia,
Taught,
If our thoughts are quiet,
Peaceful and full of love,
Kindness,
Purity,
Then we have peace.
For peaceful thoughts make possible the existence of inner peace,
Which radiates from us.
If we can find some time each day to cultivate a healthy disposition of the mind,
To generate peaceful thoughts,
Compassionate thoughts within us,
We don't just take valuable care of ourselves.
We quite naturally bring peace to those around us.
The work we do to establish peace in ourselves quietly opens out to touch and hold those around us.
In a moment,
I'll introduce two very simple meditations.
The first to quieten our mind and bring our attention back to the peace of the present moment.
The second to generate peaceful thoughts within us and compassion for those around us.
And we'll practice each of these meditations for five minutes.
So,
Take a few moments to make sure you're sitting comfortably,
With your back as straight as you're able,
With your body still and relaxed but alert.
Take a few slow,
Deep breaths.
Notice the softness of your body.
And if you're aware of any tensions within you,
Gently release these as you breathe out.
Now take your attention to your breath and breathing slowly and deeply from your diaphragm,
Follow your breath,
Flowing in and flowing out through your nose.
This will help you bring body and mind together and lead your mind to greater stillness.
Whenever you notice your attention has been stolen by a thought or feeling,
Simply take your attention back to following your breath.
To return to the practice is the practice,
As the teacher,
Shunryu Suzuki,
Taught.
Allow your thoughts to come and go,
Just don't serve them tea.
It's that simple,
That subtle.
And try not to place any demands or expectations on yourself.
Just to return to the practice is to say yes to being here,
Present for the gift of our life,
Present with each other.
And this is enough.
Thank you.
You you you you you you you you you Now,
Our second practice.
To generate peaceful thoughts within us and compassion for those around us.
Take a few moments to make sure you're sitting comfortably.
And now,
Draw your attention to your breath.
Breathe slowly and deeply from your diaphragm.
And follow your breath flowing in and flowing out through your nose.
And now imagine a warm light in your chest.
Imagine this light getting stronger and brighter as you breathe in.
And as you breathe out,
Imagine this light flowing out of you.
If people you love come to mind,
People you know are suffering,
Who may be fearful or lonely,
Surround them with this warm light.
With each in-breath,
Watch this light grow and fill you.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
With each out-breath,
Let this warm light of compassion flow into the world.
Thank you for watching!
You you you
