Meditations on the 48 Laws of Power During last session we meditated around the first law,
Never outshine the master,
Where we explored how important it is to moderate how we come out when there's people that have higher power than us.
During today's session we'll go around the second law,
Never put too much trust in friends,
Learn how to use enemies.
We'll meditate on friendship and the importance of having enemies to build power and grow ourselves.
Before we start,
Take this moment to move the body to help it regain flexibility and improve blood flow.
This will make it feel lighter and help us have a deeper meditation.
Find a quiet space where you can sit or lie down comfortably.
To declare the start of this meditation,
Breathe in deeply,
Filling your whole body with air,
From the top of the head to the bottom of the feet.
Then release a soft and long sigh.
Repeat after me.
I allow my body to let go of any tensions.
I allow my mind to slow down and relax.
Notice how the breath moves the body naturally.
When we inhale and exhale,
The body becoming full and then softening.
Law number two,
Never put too much trust in friends,
Learn how to use enemies.
Be wary of friends,
They will betray you more quickly,
For they are easily aroused to envy.
They also become spoiled and tyrannical,
But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend because he has more to prove.
In fact,
You have more to fear from friends than from enemies.
If you have no enemies,
Find a way to make them.
With friends,
We tend to lower our guards and show vulnerable because we trust them.
Nobody believes a friend can betray,
But human history is full of stories where friends betrayed each other.
Friends tend to forget the favors we gave to them.
They imagine they earned the success by their own merits.
Enemies,
On the other hand,
Without them we grow lazy.
An enemy at our heels sharpens our wits.
It keeps us focused and alert.
Learn how to grab a sword by the handle instead of the blade.
Now,
Think of a time where you put too much trust in someone and it led to disappointment.
Allow yourself to feel any emotion that arises without judgment.
Acknowledge the lessons that the experience brought.
Think of a time when facing an enemy made you stronger in the end.
Without judgment,
Allow yourself to feel the sensation of that confrontation.
Acknowledge the lessons that experience gave you.
Allow yourself to digest the experiences.
Ask yourself,
How can I balance trust and discernment in my relationships?
In what ways have my enemies taught me valuable lessons?
How can I use these lessons to navigate future challenges?
As you breathe in,
Repeat after me.
I trust wisely.
Learning from each interaction,
My journey is enriched by the lessons of both friends and enemies.
I am wisdom.
I am power.
Now,
Closing this meditation,
Gently return your awareness to the present moment.
Focusing on the breath,
The gentle inhales and soft exhales.
Start exhaling through the mouth.
Start moving and when you are ready,
Open your eyes.
Carry the balance of trust and discernment with you as you navigate your relationships.
Thank you for joining me on this meditation and we'll see each other on the next one.
