New Year Meditation Script: Presence without Re-
Perspective:
With the dawning of a new year, we oft reflect on what we haven't accomplished, our unfulfilled dreams or unintended consequences from our decisions. January 1 becomes a benchmark, not a starting line.
A benchmark because we arrive at this day with all our baggage, all of our travails, all of our insecurities and doubts, we arrive at this flag-post of our journey from our own circuitous path. By all rights, an imperious day on the calendar, based on man's imperfect calculations. Today hardly reflects celestial significance or religious connotation. But nonetheless, a new day, a new year and a fork in our road. A universally accepted reset.
A chance for a right or a wrong?
The prefix re- is used to indicate again, and again, and again. We all know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Another intention of the prefix re- is back, as in: to reflect. However, on this arbitrary day of new beginnings, now is the time to not re-birth but birth a new idea, not re-new but to be new, not re-commit but to commit wholly from your heart. Today is not the day to set a re-solution but to become your solution. We shall not re-present our past, we shall be present henceforth in each and every day.
Resolutions, the act of re-setting an idealization of you, could be construed as an act of violence towards oneself. An effort, an expectation, a self-flagellation, a field of cactus without any shoes, a battle of willpower. This mindset is self-defeating because it does not require you to look at the source of your misgiving.
As a practice after your meditation, one can list optimum goals, but then evaluate from the heart what is the source of this need or desire for change. As this path is better understood, so will a clearer, deeper, more universal intention prevail. From this intention one can incorporate mindfulness from the heart. The power to direct awareness towards your true self will be revealed from the archives of your past. From this presence, all that you seek will become an intended sequence of intentional living, benchmarks will give way to an open meadow of contentment.
Meditation:
Arrive at your space. (Add a candle or a scent or whatever feels like meditation to you.) Note your breath, your shoulders, your body position. No need to change it, just observe it. Understand that this is your space and all that is in this space represents who you are at this moment. Even if this is a new space filled with unaccustomed pieces, it is your path that has brought you here, now.
Come to your comfortable seat.
Notice 5 things that you can see with your eyes. Notice something more minute about each visual cue. A candle light, the flicker, the movement of the flicker (for example). Take in the sense of what you see.
Now close your eyes and breath (for several moments).
Notice 4 things that you can feel. Notice something more minute about what you feel. The pull of gravity, the right sitting bone seated deeper than the left (for example). Take in the sense of all that touches you.
Breath and notice the feel of the breath as it enters and exits the body.
Notice 3 things you can hear. Notice something more minute about what you hear. The sound of your breath, the hum-sa rhythm, the moment it changes from inhale to exhale (for example). Take in the sense of what surrounds you.
Take time to hear different things in their layers.
Notice 2 things you can smell. Notice something more minute about the scents. Inhale your current state of body, disseminate your chosen fragrance, your lotions, soaps or oils (for example). Take in the different trace essences.
Take time to receive the olfactory sensations.
Notice the taste within your mouth. Can you extract more than one flavor? A more minute essence? Absorb the sapor upon your tongue.
Sit quietly as you have become present with your senses.
From this extraction, settle heart-wise into your body. Sort through your beliefs, release pre-disposed thoughts of personal distortion. Let go your ideas about you as different, imperfect, grotesque, odd, mutated, strange, or freakish. These judgements are from a history that does not serve you. For a moment, ask yourself if this belief is true with any certainty?
From your belief set, pluck the wilted flowers given by other's, these simply clutter your vessel. Remove them from your bouquet. Know that the flowers of your heart can only flourish from gentle cultivation.
Practice the Saraswati Mantra for Knowledge and Wisdom (use any factor of 12).
Om Aim, Hreem, Maha Saraswati, Namaha
Alternatively, practice Hum-Sa.
With the dawning of a new year, we oft reflect on what we haven't accomplished, our unfulfilled dreams or unintended consequences from our decisions. January 1 becomes a benchmark, not a starting line.
A benchmark because we arrive at this day with all our baggage, all of our travails, all of our insecurities and doubts, we arrive at this flag-post of our journey from our own circuitous path. By all rights, an imperious day on the calendar, based on man's imperfect calculations. Today hardly reflects celestial significance or religious connotation. But nonetheless, a new day, a new year and a fork in our road. A universally accepted reset.
A chance for a right or a wrong?
The prefix re- is used to indicate again, and again, and again. We all know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Another intention of the prefix re- is back, as in: to reflect. However, on this arbitrary day of new beginnings, now is the time to not re-birth but birth a new idea, not re-new but to be new, not re-commit but to commit wholly from your heart. Today is not the day to set a re-solution but to become your solution. We shall not re-present our past, we shall be present henceforth in each and every day.
Resolutions, the act of re-setting an idealization of you, could be construed as an act of violence towards oneself. An effort, an expectation, a self-flagellation, a field of cactus without any shoes, a battle of willpower. This mindset is self-defeating because it does not require you to look at the source of your misgiving.
As a practice after your meditation, one can list optimum goals, but then evaluate from the heart what is the source of this need or desire for change. As this path is better understood, so will a clearer, deeper, more universal intention prevail. From this intention one can incorporate mindfulness from the heart. The power to direct awareness towards your true self will be revealed from the archives of your past. From this presence, all that you seek will become an intended sequence of intentional living, benchmarks will give way to an open meadow of contentment.
Meditation:Arrive at your space. (Add a candle or a scent or whatever feels like meditation to you.) Note your breath, your shoulders, your body position. No need to change it, just observe it. Understand that this is your space and all that is in this space represents who you are at this moment. Even if this is a new space filled with unaccustomed pieces, it is your path that has brought you here, now.
Come to your comfortable seat.
Notice 5 things that you can see with your eyes. Notice something more minute about each visual cue. A candle light, the flicker, the movement of the flicker (for example). Take in the sense of what you see.
Now close your eyes and breath (for several moments).
Notice 4 things that you can feel. Notice something more minute about what you feel. The pull of gravity, the right sitting bone seated deeper than the left (for example). Take in the sense of all that touches you.
Breath and notice the feel of the breath as it enters and exits the body.
Notice 3 things you can hear. Notice something more minute about what you hear. The sound of your breath, the hum-sa rhythm, the moment it changes from inhale to exhale (for example). Take in the sense of what surrounds you.
Take time to hear different things in their layers.
Notice 2 things you can smell. Notice something more minute about the scents. Inhale your current state of body, disseminate your chosen fragrance, your lotions, soaps or oils (for example). Take in the different trace essences.
Take time to receive the olfactory sensations.
Notice the taste within your mouth. Can you extract more than one flavor? A more minute essence? Absorb the sapor upon your tongue.
Sit quietly as you have become present with your senses.
From this extraction, settle heart-wise into your body. Sort through your beliefs, release pre-disposed thoughts of personal distortion. Let go your ideas about you as different, imperfect, grotesque, odd, mutated, strange, or freakish. These judgements are from a history that does not serve you. For a moment, ask yourself if this belief is true with any certainty?From your belief set, pluck the wilted flowers given by other's, these simply clutter your vessel. Remove them from your bouquet. Know that the flowers of your heart can only flourish from gentle cultivation.
Practice the Saraswati Mantra for Knowledge and Wisdom (use any factor of 12).
Om Aim, Hreem, Maha Saraswati, Namaha
Alternatively, practice Hum-Sa.