This guided meditation practice involves the following classic mindfulness images and similes:
- a relaxed cowherd after the harvest
- surgeons probe gathering information before action
- ploughshare to prep the ground for wisdom
- elephant’s neck supporting the head of wisdom while turning the full body to look, not just the head, for full attention
- climbing a platform with detachment for an broader perspective and overview
- town gatekeeper knowing who to keep out and able to direct who comes in
- wheel spokes connecting the hub of the body to the outside of the wheel of our experiences while helping to steer
- hitching post to tame and keep animals from wandering off all the while the strong post remains unmoved
- balancing aspect like walking with bowl of oil atop the head
Other relevant imagery:
Faith and wisdom are evenly yoked together.
Conscience is its pole, the mind is the rope tied to the yoke, Awareness is the watchful charioteer.
from SN 45:4
Suppose a king had a frontier city with strong ramparts and walls, with six gates. A wise gatekeeper keeps out strangers and admits acquaintances. A swift pair of messengers would come from the east and ask the gatekeeper: “Where is the lord of this city?” He would reply: “He is sitting in the central square.” Then the swift messengers would deliver a message of reality to the lord. …
The meaning here is: ‘The city;’ is a term for the body. ‘The six gates’ is the six internal sense bases. ‘The gatekeeper’ is awareness. The swift messengers are tranquility and insight. ‘The lord of the city’ is consciousness. … ‘The message of reality’ is Nibbāna.
From SN 35:245
Any river can be stopped with the dam of awareness. I call it the flood-stopper. And with wisdom you can close the floodgates.
from Sutta Nipāta v. 1035
Meditation Audio: Classic Mindfulness Imagery
Mary’s House of Healing
524 South Main Street
Downstairs at Fat Cat Longevity next to Peace Love Coffee…
St. Charles, MO 63301
June 2, 2021 — 6:00pm – 6:45pm
Doors open: 5:50pm — Doors close: 6:05pm
Cost: Fat Cat Longevity price packages, monthly membership or generosity inspired donation
Integrating Presence 