It's very easy to look out into the world at the conflict and suffering that is happening and to feel helpless.
To want to do something but nothing seems big enough or important enough to make a change.
When I feel this way,
I remind myself of the Lao Tzu quote,
If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbours.
If there is to be peace between neighbours,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.
This quote reminds me that I can cultivate peace in my own heart.
If I awaken a version of myself that is kind,
Loving,
Caring,
And compassionate,
Then like a pebble in a still pond,
My inner peace can ripple out and help the ones around me.
And then they might also begin that ripple of peace to those around them,
And so on.
That by being the change,
Being the peace,
I can make a small difference in the world.
And if enough of us start peaceful ripples,
Who knows how far peace can travel?
And maybe one day,
One day we can all feel peace.
So how do we begin to cultivate peace?
I believe one of the most important tools to cultivate peace is through meditation.
Every day connecting to the stillness and silence that rests within.
In doing so,
We go deeper than the layers of our superficial existence and connect to a deep well of peace and unconditional love that rests there.
We connect to this space in our meditation,
And then when we return to the real world,
We carry that peace and love with us and ripple it out.
Know that you are never alone.
There are millions,
If not billions of people on this planet connecting to that space between.
That space of love and peace,
And that they also are cultivating peace in their own hearts,
Creating a collective peace in the world.
So let's take some time together to connect to this peace within.
So make yourself comfortable either sitting or lying down.
Allow your whole body to soften.
You can close the eyes or soften the gaze.
And take a moment just to connect to your breathing.
Connect to the breath flowing in and out of your body.
Soften a little more and let there be no obstruction or conflict in your breath.
Let it just flow.
Just be the witness,
Watching the breath moving in and out,
Unrestricted without your control,
Natural and spontaneous.
And let's take a moment to awaken gratitude.
Take a moment to think about what you are thankful for.
What am I grateful for?
Who am I grateful for?
And why am I grateful for these things?
What and who am I grateful for and why?
Keep asking yourself that question and just think of all those things that you are thankful for.
Get that sense of gratitude and what it feels like in your body.
Just 26 seconds of a gratitude practice can change the chemistry in your brain,
Can awaken positivity or contentment,
Peace,
Compassion,
Empathy.
It's a great start to awakening and cultivating peace in our hearts.
Take a few more moments in gratitude.
And then let's move into a mantra meditation practice.
The mantra I offer you today is Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
You just allow that mantra Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Allow that mantra to keep repeating in your mind Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om the universal vibration and Shanti the Sanskrit for peace.
We are connecting to universal peace.
Notice the vibration for peace.
So keep repeating that mantra in your mind.
When and if the mind wanders off or you become distracted,
When you catch yourself having wandered off,
Simply come back to your mantra gently,
Peacefully coming back to Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
And just keep repeating the mantra.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
So gently bringing your awareness of the back into your body.
Can leave the repetition of Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
And just connect into the space of stillness and silence to the peace that rests within.
And from here just sending out peace from your heart.
Send out love and peace to wherever it is needed in the world right now.
Send out that love and peace like a beacon of light to wherever it's needed.
And return the awareness into your body and to your breath begin to deepen your breath.
Maybe give a wriggle to the fingers,
A wriggle to the toes.
And stretch the body if you like.
Rolling onto one side if you're laying down and then gently coming to a seated position.
Thank you for joining me for this meditation for peace.
May peace fill your heart.
May peace surround you today and always.
Namaste.
