Document my favorite meditation techniques

I recently picked up a book by Thich Nhat Hanh, The Bloom of a Lotus, which is filled with meditations. I am starting at the beginning of the book and will do the meditations all the way through. His primary focus is on the breath and the present moment.

I’m finding the use of my prayer beads helpful, as my zen clock is located elsewhere in the house. I will make a set of prayer beads specifically for these meditations.

The first meditation:

1. Breathing in, I calm my body
Breathing out, I smile

2. Breathing in, I dwell in the present moment.
Breathing out, I know it is a wonderful moment.

This is not a technique, but something I read:

Whatever one does [in meditation], whatever one tries to practice, is not aimed at achieving a higher state or at following some theory or ideal, but simply, without any object or ambition, trying to see what is here and now. One has to become aware of the present moment through such means as concentrating on the breathing … This is based on developing the knowledge of nowness, for each respiration is unique. It is an expression of now. – Chogyam Trungpa

This one is pretty simple. Just make yourself laugh hysterically. You can do it! Just do it! Go ahead and try it right now! The thing is this. The body responds so favorably to laughter. But the body doesn’t really know if you’re laughing at something or laughing at nothing at all! So George Carlin doesn’t score bigger points with your body than fake laughter. How cool is that! And this is so much fun to do with a friend. (Wouldn’t it be a hoot to do it in public and see how many people laugh along with you?)

Sometimes in the morning, I like to meditate on doors. What do they mean to me. Are the doors in my life open or closed? Who controls the opening and closing of the doors? How do I feel when doors open and close? Can I remember how it actually Feels when these things have happened in the past? How would I like to view doors today? Then I spend the day paying attention to each door I open and close. What does it represent? What do I leave behind? What do I enter into? Who comes into my door and leaves? What do they bring? What do I give? What do they leave? What do I send with them?

Although not necessarily a technique, it is a prayer I want to commit to memory. I’ll start tonight while I cross-stitch.

Lines Written on a Bookmark in Teresa of Avila’s Breviary

Let nothing disturb thee;
Nothing affright thee;
All things are passing;
God never changeth;
Patient endurance
Attaineth to all things;
Who God possesseth
In nothing is wanting;
Alone God sufficeth.

Translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I wanted to take the simple metta prayer that I use, and build on it. So I found info on a website and like the following expansion based on my previous entry:

May all be happy, content, and fulfilled
May all be healthy and whole
May all have what they want and need
May all be protected from harm, and free from fear
May all enjoy inner peace and ease
May all be awakened, liberated, and free
May there be peace in the world, and peace throughout the universe

Pray this for yourself, a revered one (e.g. spiritual teacher), your loved ones, a neutral person, someone you don’t like, all beings deserving of honor

This is what I pray while Olivia is sleeping on my chest. Although this is Buddhist in origin, I pray all things in the name of Jesus.

As with all my meditations I begin with proper body position and focus on the breath. This one helps me experience my true essence. Especially when I am suffering physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

I have a body, and I am more than my body
I have thoughts, and I am more than my thoughts
I have emotions, and I am more than my emotions

I combined the metta prayer with beading today! I can hardly contain myself. Made metta prayer beads. Anywho, enough tooting my own horn. The metta prayer is the Lovingkindness Prayer. I love it because it covers just about Everything. There are several different versions that vary slightly. You can google metta prayer to find them. This one resonates with me.

This is the Prayer part of it:

May I be safe, may I be happy, may I be healthy, may I live in lovingkindess.

So far so good, huh?

Now, the next part is Who you pray for.

1. Start with yourself: May I be peaceful …
2. Think of someone who is worthy of your deepest respect, like a spiritual advisor, a teacher, a mentor. Then you pray: may you be safe, may you be healthy, etc.
3. Then think of those you love, like your family, friends, community etc. Same prayer: safe, healthy, happy, lovingkindness.
4. Next think of someone, well, you don’t quite like, or maybe who is particularly, shall we say, challenging, to you at this point in your life. And uh, oh. You guessed it, pray for em!
5. Think of someone neutral, someone you don’t really know. Like the guy who packs your groceries all the time that you’ve never said hello to. Pray for him. I think you got the prayer by now.
6. Lastly, pray for all sentient beings in the universe. Oo. Big word. All the lifeforms that we give respect to. Pray on, dude.

But here’s the Most Important Point. Ready?

LIVE THE PRAYER! Before you know it, you’ll be saying hello to the guy who packs your groceries … ;)