Brother Richard

And then allowing the sound of the bell

to draw us back to the activity of the day.

Thank you.

Welcome back.

In today's meditation, we are once again going to recover the basic form that allows us to enter into stillness.

As I've mentioned before, this is a good place to begin the practice or simply to renew one's facility with this basic process of deep relaxation leading to stillness, a doorway into meditation.

So let's begin.

Coming to the time of meditation, we enter these few moments generously, openly, deliberately.

We make the intention to enter this practice now with an open heart and mind.

Sitting into our meditation space, we move gently in a relaxed way.

We can begin with a ritual gesture, something that reminds us that this is a special time, a sacred time.

It might be simply joining our hands for a moment in prayer posture at the chest, giving a bow, perhaps making the sign of the cross or lighting a candle.

Choose something that you feel comfortable with and allow that to be that marker for yourself as you enter this time.

Sitting then, we begin with just being aware of where we are, feeling our contact with the ground through our feet or legs, the stability of the earth beneath us,

Coming to sit, we allow ourselves to sit in a restful and open way.

Feeling the cushion or the chair beneath us.

Feeling the points of contact we have.

And then gently allowing the spine to open.

Our back to relax.

Shoulders to drop.