“It is not just an arbitrary idea that the world is good, but it is good because we can experience its goodness. We can experience our world as healthy and straightforward, direct and real, because our basic nature is to go along with the goodness of situations. The human potential for intelligence and dignity is attuned to experiencing the brilliance of the bright blue sky, the freshness of green fields, and the beauty of the trees and mountains. We have an actual connection to reality that can wake us up and make us feel basically, fundamentally good. Shambhala vision is tuning in to our ability to wake ourselves up and recognize that goodness can happen to us. In fact, it is happening already.” – Chogyam Trungpa
I once had a memorable moment several years ago, while teaching students aged 7 to 17 for a summer program at UC Berkeley. I'd explained on the first day that we'd be ending each day's class with a one-minute meditation. I described meditation's ability to instill inner peace and clarity for optimal health, well-being, and mental, emotional, and spiritual functioning. Each student could choose whichever type of meditation felt right for them at that time. These meditations could be as simple as focusing on:
- Something we're grateful for;
- Something we recently learned;
- Clearing all thoughts like imagining clearing clouds in the sky; or
- Awareness of breathing as slowly and deeply as possible.
Since these students were enrolled in a special summer program, I thought perhaps some of them had meditated before, yet a show of hands indicated none of the students in this class had meditated previously. My memorable moment occurred when I walked up to the school office the next day, after that first day of class, and was surprised to find one of my 17-year-old students sitting cross-legged on the ground outside the office with head in her hands, looking dejected. She gazed up at me as I approached, and asked, “What was that meditation for clearing our mind, again?” In that moment when our eyes met, I could see that she was in the midst of some heavy emotions, and not on her way to class.
As I realized I might not see her in class again, I sat down next to her, and lead a guided thought-clearing meditation. In thought-clearing meditation, we can observe whatever thoughts and feelings arise, while recognizing that those thoughts and feelings are not who we are. We can view them as if they are clouds in a blue sky, and we can imagine clearing those clouds—letting them go from our mental ‘sky.'
I was grateful to be able to take a few minutes with this young lady, and that we could experience a sense of foundational conscious awareness operating outside of time and space. I was especially grateful to be able to share this moment of practicing the art of meditation in a moment in life where inner peace can be most transformative.
At this time when a recent study published in Jama Pediatrics, reports of children and teens experiencing depression and anxiety have increased over the last five years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that emergency room visits for attempted suicide among teenage girls was up 51.6 percent in the first months of 2021, compared with 2019. These are times when we can be kinder to everyone around us of all ages, with the awareness that our ability to care about and connect with others might make all the difference for someone.
One of the most precious qualities we can develop is resilience—with awareness that no matter what may seem to be happening in any given moment, there exists awareness of intrinsic love and goodness everywhere. We can develop resilience through meditation and prayer, and making time to connect with a sense of unconditional divine love. Thanks to keeping our hearts and minds open to love and divine inspiration, we can be the change we wish to see in the world. From a peaceful, centered emotional state, we are quite likely to experience—and help create—goodness in the world.
One area in life that emotionally triggers people is feeling concerns about money. Knowing that meditation can help is useful, yet sometimes people feel a need for a little extra help feeling inner peace and calm about money. If you are open to seeing money from a different perspective and getting a deeper understanding of the energy of money, I am honored to invite you to a FREE event happening this month, entitled Money is Creative and Divine. I will be one of the featured speakers! Please click HERE to register: Money is Creative and Divine
You're welcome to explore some truly amazing reality shifts that have been reported over the past twenty plus years and posted at RealityShifters. Any time you'd like to remind yourself of some of the remarkable changes we've witnessed, I welcome you to browse through a few issues, and fall more deeply and fully in love with the wonder and magic of life!
Love always,
Cynthia Sue Larson
email Cynthia at cynthia@realityshifters.com
P.S. Did you know that I share new experiences, tips, stories, and inspirational ideas at Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube? I look forward to seeing you there!
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