Monday, August 25, 2008

Exercise: Visiting A Spiritual Place

“Be Here Now” was a 1971 book by Baba Ram Dass (Richard Alpert), and its core message (the title of the book) is just as relevant today with respect to living a spirit-centered and fully-empowered life on a moment-to-moment basis.

When our awareness is distracted by thoughts of the past or future, or of events happening in other places, we diminish our abilities to fully experience the magic and power and the infinite possibilities of the present moment at that one particular place and time.

So, generally, being “here now” is a wonderful philosophy and I usually try to keep that focus myself.

On the other hand, the “here now” that some people may be experiencing right now may perhaps be able to be improved upon, if only for a moment, and this is a quick and easy exercise you can do right now that can achieve that sort of improvement, and maybe get you feeling quite happy and spiritual.

And it’s really very simple.

[The following is written in the style of a guided meditation, so you could repeat it into a recorder and play it back to yourself or have a friend read it to you.]

So just close your eyes for a moment, and imagine the most spiritual, sacred place in the world. It might be a temple, church, pyramid, mosque, or other religious building, or it might be a place where some very sacred and holy event took place.

And if you don't know any particular sacred place right now you can just invent one in your mind, just as spiritual and powerful as any place on earth.

And just imagine that place as clearly as you can, in all the little details.

And when you have a very clear imagining of that sacred and spiritual place in your mind, then imagine that you are actually at that place, that very spiritual place.

And notice all the details and qualities of what it’s like to be there: the feels, the sounds, the colors, the textures. Let your senses fully experience what it would actually be like if you were there, right now, in person; whatever sights, smells, or sounds that you would actually experience if you were there right now.

And then finally allow your inner self to feel the spirituality of that place, the true magic of being there, all the way from your feet through your whole body to the top of your head. And just allow it all to happen, and let the sacredness and spirituality of that very special place fill you completely.

And when you are completely filled with the feeling of the spirituality and power of that place, so much so that you are actually almost glowing with that beautiful sacred feeling, and when you’re ready, then come on back to the “here and now” and allow your eyes to open at their own pace. And take a deep, slow breath, and then let it out.

And just allow that wonderful feeling of sacred spirituality that you received from that special place to stay with you for the rest of the day, and maybe tomorrow too, nurturing you and empowering you and making you feel so good, inside and out.

Perfect!

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