A meditation
7-21-2020
So which of your Lord's favours do you deny?
It's all in how we look at it
We give everything we perceive all the meaning that it has for us.
Think about it!
Two people see the same person walking down the street wearing ragged clothes.
One person may
wonder how they might be of help. Another person may think that the one with the ragged clothes needs
to get busy and work because they are probably lazy.
How we think about things determines our inner emotional state. The first fellow, who thinks the
person walking down the street needs help, will feel compassion and continue his walk in peace.
The second person, who perceives laziness, might feel bitter and resentful toward the
fellow with ragged clothes and will be a grump as he walks on.
Clearly our perception gives all the meaning to what we see and that determines our inner state.
We are at choice in these matters ... we often forget that!
The purpose of this meditation is to radically change how we perceive things and
thereby change our inner state - trading peace for agitation and fear.
The meditation is based on the Quranic verse : "So which of your Lord's favours do you deny"?
This verse implies that everything that we see is a favor (a gift) from God. What would our
lives be like if seeing everything as a gift from God was our habitual perception?
The practice
Take a few deep breaths and sit comfortably then:
as any sound arises notice it: say to yourself mentally - God's favor
as any image in your mind arises notice it: say to yourself mentally - God's favor
as any thought about a person, place, or thing arises notice it: say to yourself mentally - God's favor
when you become aware of your breath notice it: say mentally to yourself - God's favor
when you become aware of any body sensation (pleasant or unpleasant) notice it: say mentally to yourself - God's favor
Just notice
Reject no thought, cling to no thought, remember no thought
Practice
Do this practice for twenty minutes each morning and each evening.
It will change your life!
We end the meditation with this thought:
"They are the ones who believe and whose hearts
are assured through the remembrance of God. Absolutely, through
the remembrance of God do the hearts find rest".