Guided meditations can help us to pause, rest, focus and deeply experience the present moment of our life. As a practice, they remind us to come back to ourselves over and over, so that resting our presence in our body becomes a habit. 

These meditations can be used when sitting or walking. Bring your mind home to your body and allow it to rest there, in your living presence.

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Wishing you much joy and ease in your practice,

Orlaith

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The five remembrances

The five remembrances can help us to recognise and take care of our fear. In this practice, the five remembrances are blended with loving-kindness to warm our hearts and encourage us in our practice.

In ‘Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet’, Thich Nhat Hanh writes:

“Most of us are afraid of dying, of getting sick, of getting old, and of being abandoned. We’re afraid of losing what we cherish and losing those we love. […]
”We shouldn’t try to run away from fear, but take time to recognize it, embrace it, and look deeply into its roots. In Buddhism, we have a meditation to face and transform our fears, called “the Five Remembrances.” Breathing mindfully, in and out, deep and slow, can give us stability as we contemplate:

  1. I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.

  2. I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no way to escape having ill health.

  3. I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.

  4. All that is dear to me and everyone I love is of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.

  5. I inherit the results of my actions of body, speech, and mind. My actions are my continuation.

Please practice this when you feel safe and stable. If a strong fear arises in you, please take time to establish yourself in this moment and to notice the many conditions that are already supporting you. Explore what might nourish your ease, joy or happiness - you can always return to the remembrances at another time.