Hello,
Friends.
Today I'm going to lead you through Tenglin meditation.
Tenglin meditation is a Buddhist practice.
It's focused on connecting with our suffering and the suffering of others,
And then visualizing and dreaming of what might transmute the suffering we are experiencing and that we are experiencing as a collective.
So for this meditation,
I invite you to find a way to be in your body.
You can sit.
You can move on to your back.
You can sit in a chair.
Find a way to be in your body.
Close your eyes,
Soften your gaze,
Or find a grounding focal point in your space.
Allow your hands to rest wherever it feels comfortable,
And then take a moment to settle in.
Now turn your attention to your breath.
Begin to feel your inhales and exhales.
See if you can begin to deepen and lengthen your breath and your body,
Lengthening your exhales,
Deepening your exhales.
And begin to connect to the sensations present in your body,
The emotions moving through.
Notice your spirit and your heart.
Take a moment to bring an awareness to the suffering you may be feeling at this time or experiencing in your life or in response to the suffering the planet is experiencing at this time.
And as you connect with your own experience of suffering,
Remember to resource yourself,
Meaning the practice is being with the suffering,
Not becoming the suffering.
So remember you have your breath as a resource.
And as you breathe in,
Breathe in the suffering you're experiencing and you're not alone in it.
So the suffering of the collective,
Take some deep inhales and exhales and breathe it in as an acknowledgement,
Carrying or breathing in that suffering,
That our suffering is connected.
And I want to invite you to visualize what might transmute the suffering or what medicine might we need as we move through the suffering or what is your dream for this world as you think about healing and continue to breathe in the suffering and breathe out whatever you visualize peace,
Calm,
Dismantling of systems,
A reminder we are interconnected.
Breathe out whatever it is that you believe will transmute the suffering,
Will allow us to move through it and ultimately to decrease suffering.
Stay with this for a few more breaths.
Now take a moment to notice how you feel.
And you can stay with this for as long as you would like.
Breathing in the suffering,
Breathing out your prayer,
Your wish,
Your medicine,
Whatever it is you believe might support us in healing.
I invite you to bring your hands together and into heart center or to connect with your heart in a meaningful way.
Notice any tenderness that may be present and take a moment to connect or hold your heart.
And I invite you to close by engaging this mantra.
You can repeat it to yourself silently or out loud.
The mantra is,
May I decrease the suffering on this planet,
My own and others.
May I decrease the suffering on this planet,
My own and others.
May I decrease the suffering on this planet,
My own and others.
Work with this mantra for as long as you would like.
May you be safe,
Happy and free.
May all beings everywhere be safe,
Happy and free.
May our thoughts,
Words and actions contribute to that safety,
Happiness and freedom for all.
May our world be just and may we all find peace.
Take care.
A deep bow.
Be well.
