Loving Acceptance Meditation
Cultivating a compassionate heart...
To participate in Compassionate Heart meditation, you can read the text below or listen to the following 22-minute recording of the meditation that guitarist Tom Duesterhoeft and I recorded on May 22, 2011 in the sanctuary of Unity of Appleton.
Compassionate Heart Meditation
Sit comfortably and relax with each breath.
Notice the distractions that come to you.
When they do, simply return attention to your breath.
As the distractions come again,
gently return to your breath.
Now, go deeper.
Feel the presence of your heart
in the moment of each breath.
Be with this awareness
in your whole self.
* * * * *
Bring someone you love into your awareness
and let that person rest
in a gentle place of acceptance and love.
Bring any thoughts or feelings you have
about that person into your heart -
and let both of you rest
in the heart of compassion.
Let yourself be at peace.
Let all be at peace.
* * * * *
Now be aware of yourself, just as you are
and let yourself rest
in a gentle place of acceptance and love.
Bring any thoughts or feelings you have
about yourself into your heart -
and let yourself rest
in the heart of compassion.
Let yourself be at peace.
Let all be at peace.
* * * * *
Let yourself be aware of a person in your life
you are familiar with but don't know
and let that person rest
in a gentle place of acceptance and love.
Bring any thoughts and feelings you have
about that person into your heart -
and let both of you rest
in the heart of compassion.
Let yourself be at peace.
Let all be at peace.
* * * * *
Now bring someone you have difficulty with
into your awareness
and let that person rest
in a gentle place of acceptance and love.
Bring any thoughts or feelings you have
about that person into your heart -
and let both of you rest together
in the heart of compassion.
Let yourself be at peace.
Let all be at peace.
* * * * *
Let yourself be aware of every person in the world
and every living being in the world
and every situation in the world
and let the world rest with you
in a gentle place of acceptance and love.
Bring any thoughts or feelings you have
about the world into your heart -
and let the world rest
in the heart of compassion.
Let yourself be at peace.
Let the world be at peace.
Let all be at peace.
* * * * *
Let all be at peace.
Be grateful for your experience.
Be grateful for your life, and for all life.
Let your experience lead you
toward what is real and true.
And when you're ready
be aware of your feet on the floor
your hands in your lap
and your breath
letting go
and taking in
the life you live.
Sit comfortably and relax with each breath.
Notice the distractions that come to you.
When they do, simply return attention to your breath.
As the distractions come again,
gently return to your breath.
Now, go deeper.
Feel the presence of your heart
in the moment of each breath.
Be with this awareness
in your whole self.
* * * * *
Bring someone you love into your awareness
and let that person rest
in a gentle place of acceptance and love.
Bring any thoughts or feelings you have
about that person into your heart -
and let both of you rest
in the heart of compassion.
Let yourself be at peace.
Let all be at peace.
* * * * *
Now be aware of yourself, just as you are
and let yourself rest
in a gentle place of acceptance and love.
Bring any thoughts or feelings you have
about yourself into your heart -
and let yourself rest
in the heart of compassion.
Let yourself be at peace.
Let all be at peace.
* * * * *
Let yourself be aware of a person in your life
you are familiar with but don't know
and let that person rest
in a gentle place of acceptance and love.
Bring any thoughts and feelings you have
about that person into your heart -
and let both of you rest
in the heart of compassion.
Let yourself be at peace.
Let all be at peace.
* * * * *
Now bring someone you have difficulty with
into your awareness
and let that person rest
in a gentle place of acceptance and love.
Bring any thoughts or feelings you have
about that person into your heart -
and let both of you rest together
in the heart of compassion.
Let yourself be at peace.
Let all be at peace.
* * * * *
Let yourself be aware of every person in the world
and every living being in the world
and every situation in the world
and let the world rest with you
in a gentle place of acceptance and love.
Bring any thoughts or feelings you have
about the world into your heart -
and let the world rest
in the heart of compassion.
Let yourself be at peace.
Let the world be at peace.
Let all be at peace.
* * * * *
Let all be at peace.
Be grateful for your experience.
Be grateful for your life, and for all life.
Let your experience lead you
toward what is real and true.
And when you're ready
be aware of your feet on the floor
your hands in your lap
and your breath
letting go
and taking in
the life you live.