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Some meditative exercises
Apr. 26th, 2025 07:24 amThe section I'm on now is mostly a bunch of meditative exercises, for example half smiling when you wake up, counting your breaths, etc. I'm just including a couple that I particularly liked.
“The Pebble: while sitting still and breathing slowly, think of yourself as a Pebble which is falling through a clear stream. While sinking, there is no intention to guide your movement. Sink toward the spot of rest on the gentle sand of the river bed. Continue meditating on the Pebble until your mind and body are at complete rest: a Pebble resting on the sand. Maintain this peace and joy 1/2 hour while watching your breath. No thought about the past or future can pull you away from your present peace and joy. The universe exists in this present moment. No desire can pull you away from this present peace, not even the desire to become a Buddha or the desire to save all beings. Know that to become a Buddha and to save all beings can only be realized on the foundation of the pure peace of the present moment.
Your skeleton: lie on a bed, or on a mat or on the grass in a position in which you are comfortable. Don't use a pillow. Begin to take hold of your breath. Imagine all that is left of your body is a white skeleton lying on the face of the earth. Maintain the half smile I continue to follow your breath. Imagine that all of your flesh has decomposed and is gone, that your skeleton is now lying in the earth 80 years after burial. See clearly the bones of your head, back, your ribs, your hip bones, leg an arm bones, finger bones. Maintain the half smile, breathe very lightly, your heart and mind serene. See that your skeleton is not you. Your bodily form is not you. Be it one with life. Live eternally in the trees and grass, in other people, in the birds and beasts, in the sky, in the ocean waves. Your skeleton is only one part of you. You are present everywhere and in every moment. You are not only a bodily form, or even feelings, thoughts, action, and knowledge. Continue for 20 to 30 minutes.”
“The Pebble: while sitting still and breathing slowly, think of yourself as a Pebble which is falling through a clear stream. While sinking, there is no intention to guide your movement. Sink toward the spot of rest on the gentle sand of the river bed. Continue meditating on the Pebble until your mind and body are at complete rest: a Pebble resting on the sand. Maintain this peace and joy 1/2 hour while watching your breath. No thought about the past or future can pull you away from your present peace and joy. The universe exists in this present moment. No desire can pull you away from this present peace, not even the desire to become a Buddha or the desire to save all beings. Know that to become a Buddha and to save all beings can only be realized on the foundation of the pure peace of the present moment.
Your skeleton: lie on a bed, or on a mat or on the grass in a position in which you are comfortable. Don't use a pillow. Begin to take hold of your breath. Imagine all that is left of your body is a white skeleton lying on the face of the earth. Maintain the half smile I continue to follow your breath. Imagine that all of your flesh has decomposed and is gone, that your skeleton is now lying in the earth 80 years after burial. See clearly the bones of your head, back, your ribs, your hip bones, leg an arm bones, finger bones. Maintain the half smile, breathe very lightly, your heart and mind serene. See that your skeleton is not you. Your bodily form is not you. Be it one with life. Live eternally in the trees and grass, in other people, in the birds and beasts, in the sky, in the ocean waves. Your skeleton is only one part of you. You are present everywhere and in every moment. You are not only a bodily form, or even feelings, thoughts, action, and knowledge. Continue for 20 to 30 minutes.”
