This is Jim Rajan.
Welcome to this three-part guided visualization based on the sacred river Ganges.
The river into which the universe flows.
In this work we will look into finding a state of absolute confidence.
Close your eyes and simply feel how your body is on the inside in a non-judgmental way.
Don't force your breathing or try to do anything.
Just be here,
Be silent and listen.
Absorb,
Feel.
Give this work your honest concentration.
What you can manage on this day.
Close your eyes.
The eyes are a gateway for the receiving of so much information.
Much of it is totally unnecessary to us and to our well-being.
In closing your eyes you are providing a shield,
A safeguard to the outside world.
Close your eyes and let them rest,
Rejuvenate for a while.
In this visualization we will be using the mind's eye,
The third eye.
Without forcing in any way simply observe your breath.
Simply observe.
No need to connect it to emotions or associate it with feelings.
Just have awareness of how it is,
Its rhythm.
In a way you are separating yourself from it.
Cutting ties to it and letting it be calm and quiet.
Now imagine it's very early in the morning.
The sun is just starting to break through the horizon.
Dusk is slowly lifting and darkness begins to thin.
In the distance there is a dusty band of red separating land from sky.
And the first rays of sun peek through and start to turn to a sandy orange.
Birds softly cheer the new day in.
Sky larks call to their loved ones.
As the sun begins to warm you,
Making your skin tingle,
You start to see where you are.
You can feel that you are in a holy place,
An ancient sacred place.
In front of you,
You see a river gently flowing,
Softly rippling by.
Pomerants sit on submerged rocks and great temples line its banks on both sides.
This is the great river Ganges.
Her purifying holy waters the destination for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year from time without beginning.
You are alone,
Sitting on the skindia ghats of the Ganges in the sacred city of Varanasi.
The ghats are stone steps,
Platforms and terraces that lead down to this ancient river.
People come here to pray,
Give thanks and heal.
Behind you,
The temple of Shiva lies partially submerged in the river.
Stones that have been here for thousands of years.
According to ancient lore,
This was the birthplace of Agni,
The Hindu god of fire.
The goddess of the river Ganga,
His mother.
The steps are covered in offerings,
Candles,
Wild burning incense and flowers.
There is an energy here that is very calming,
Very soothing.
Even the air hangs gently.
It's almost impossible for the mind to think.
All you can do is simply be.
And now you are here,
Sitting quietly on the steps that lead down to the water's edge.
You wear simple traditional cotton clothes and beside you on the stone lies a small bunch of wildflowers.
The ghats of Varanasi have very special powers.
Pilgrims such as yourself come here to sit,
To gently bathe in the waters,
To be healed and purified,
To wash away darkness,
Fears,
Worries,
But also to instill new meaning,
To create a new feeling of completeness,
Purpose and calm.
Take your time to look deep into the river.
This is the lifeblood of the gods of the air.
It is the flowing energy of life itself.
When the universe was created with the very first breath of intention,
That breath made the Ganges before all other things.
It is the one true source of life.
And now it's your turn,
My friend.
It's time for you to be healed,
To be cleansed.
It's time for a new beginning and have your wild,
Flowing blood made pure,
Vibrant and strong.
There may be others here to assist you.
You may well be alone,
But when you are ready,
Slowly rise to your feet and pick up the wildflowers.
As this was the birthplace of Agni,
The god of fire,
People come to make rituals to him,
And the steps are often strewn with ash and burning incense.
This is the beginning of your cleanse,
My friend.
This ash is the catalyst for change.
All fire ceremonies are about change and new beginnings.
Walk through the char and ash,
You will feel no pain.
The ash will bring you extraordinary wisdom and power.
Allow it to cover your feet,
Stoop down and rub some into your hands,
And when you are done,
Slowly enter the waters.
As you descend into the water,
The sun begins to rise and ignites a feeling of warmth that shimmers around your whole body.
You are one with the gods of the air,
You are one of them.
You feel a state of wholeness.
The light of the golden sun raises your vibration and fills you with an energy that is so pure,
So honest,
So full of love.
Save the wildflowers and spread them gently on the water's surface.
This is your offering to the holy river,
To Ganga,
The goddess of the river.
Her mother Mina and her father Imavat,
The personification of the great Himalayan mountains.
This holy river was created by the Lord Vishnu as he took two steps to cross the universe.
These waters are not deep,
You touch the floor easily.
Now stand in the waters of this sacred river and allow it to wash away your suffering.
Allow it to simply wash away your suffering and pain,
Cleansing you,
Refreshing you,
Revitalizing you.
You start to feel a huge weight lifted from your body,
From your shoulders and you start to feel light and buoyant.
These gentle waters flow around you and they flow through you,
Breathing new life into you,
Washing away everything that is no longer necessary.
These waters bring you freedom.
The one true goal of humanity is this freedom.
Freedom from our connection to suffering.
Freedom to simply accept what we are and what is.
Now stand in these purest of waters and feel yourself in freedom.
Feel your heart open.
Every pore of your skin opens and lets out the old,
Making space for the new.
Every cell of your being,
Of this entity that you call you,
Is washed and returned to its original state,
To its original purpose,
Its connection to your truth,
Your essence,
So that you can breathe in your authentic self once more.
This does not make you vulnerable,
It makes you strong.
It makes you all-encompassing.
It causes an expansion in you that makes you feel as if you are this river,
This sacred ancient river.
And you are connected to every guru or goddess who has ever set foot here.
Become the river.
Dance through it.
Dance through it as if it were infinity itself.
There are no boundaries anymore.
You are an energy,
A force that is pure and free.
Pure and free to dance and sing and glow and experience true joy in all moments.
As you've bloat here into the nothingness,
Ganga will send you words,
A message,
A mantra.
Your offering of wildflowers were given in exchange for this.
She heals you,
Cleanses and revitalizes every single molecule of your being and she leaves a mantra.
Listen.
Listen with your heart and remember it.
Imprint it on your heart.
For this change you are making,
This expansion,
This creation of the new will come through these words.
Hear her and hold her words in honor.
And when you are done,
Give her thanks.
Bank this place.
Send gratitude out through your skin,
Through your fingers and toes.
Let your heart burst with love and gratefulness through every pore of your being and slowly,
Oh so slowly,
Open thine eyes.
Thank you.
