Here is a simple, sweet, and profound meditation practice for peace. Your peace.
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu May all beings everywhere be happy and free. May my thoughts, words, and actions contribute to the happiness and freedom for all.
See it. Taste it. Feel it. Radiate it.
It can be challenging to anchor peace and healing for ourselves with the, often overwhelming, needs around us. This practice is first a blessing for you, and then an ever-expanding ripple out to the larger world. Your peace is the answer. And the work you do to ground in love and peace is immensely powerful. As we each tap the current of peace to flow in our own being, the flow of peace swells around us. And it is easier to ground your actions - and reactions - for the power of peace.
The whole practice laid out here (centering, reflection, mantra, visualization, journaling) can be done in 10-15 minutes. You can, of course, sit with it longer and go deeper. Or, simply center and ground for 5 minutes in the spirit of peace. You can take 5 minutes or 50, whatever you can manage TODAY. Take a moment to steep in peace and light, and hold the vision like a prayer. Do all the parts, or maybe just 1 and 3. If Parts 3 and 4 are all you do, beautiful! Feel free to customize this to what resonates with you - but keep coming back to a vision of love.
Part 1: Centering & Intention
Light a candle and center yourself with a few deeps breaths. You can also use some essential oils or sage to help you center.
Read this mantra/invocation aloud:
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
May all beings everywhere be happy and free.
May my thoughts, words, and actions contribute to the happiness and freedom for all.
Part 2: Reflection
Take a moment to consider these questions. Maybe even write a couple of things down.
-What does peace mean to you?
-Where do you crave peace in your life? Think of a specific scenario that needs peace.
-Where do you see the need for peace in the world right now? Be specific. Think of a specific scenario.
Part 3: Visualization
Play this song and close your eyes. Let yourself be washed in love and peace.
Connect with a felt sense of love and freedom in your own being. Paint a picture in your mind of your peace. Envision a scene with you happy and free, peaceful. Notice the images and sensations that come to you.
Think of the need for peace in your life and immediate experience. See the need. What does it look like? Now flip it. Visualize the scenario where you crave peace...as peace. You, the people and players, the scene that you find yourself in. See all the players as happy and free - smiling and at peace. Maybe it's an actual picture you see, or more like a dream, or feeling.
Tap into your vision of peace as a reality. Feed it. Keep coming back to it. This can take awhile. Notice thoughts and resistance. Clear the path in your own mind for a vision of peace. What does it look like?
Hold the image of your peace. Watch the peaceful scene unfold, flowing like a dream. What do you see? Sit with it for awhile.
Let the energy you put into creating this peaceful vision be a prayer for your peace and the benefit of all beings.
This can be anything. Detach from the outcome and notice what comes to you. One time I envisioned the President of the United States lounging on a cushion like Buddha with puppies, laughing and joyful. It was a fun picture and a very sweet image. Another time, I saw the whole of humanity (despite the divisiveness, fear, hate and judgement) gathered in a circle on green grass, each hugged by a beautiful loving mother of light - holding and healing our woundedness. Everyone connected in love and joy, seeing our oneness.
*Your vision can be far-fetched like a dream, or direct and tangible. Either way, the energy shifts more into the current and space of peace.
Part 4: Journal
Now write down your dream. Describe what you saw/see in your vision of peace, as present-tense reality.
Share your experience. Share your dream and vision of peace.
Om Om Om
Shanti Shanti Shanti