This meditation is to honor His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama for receiving the Congressional Gold Medal. In 1989 His Holiness received the Nobel Peace Prize. He is known world-wide as a great spiritual leader.

The 14th Dalai Lama has spent his entire life promoting personal peace as the source of outer peace in relations amongst all our brothers and sisters in the world. His life is an example for all to emulate. His cause is just.

Meditation

Find a quiet spot without distractions. If you have a little corner for an altar and cushion to sit that is perfect. Perhaps light a candle symbolizing the one light shining over all the earth's peoples, and burn some nice smelling incense to remind that we should infuse our lives with actions that help others and harm no one.

A few flowers placed on the altar show us that beauty comes from nurturing what the Divine has provided freely for all, which is the use of the earth's bounty and resources.

Now, sit straight either on a cushion with legs folded in, or in a chair with feet flat on the floor. Fold hands in your lap, or place them palms down on your legs. Let you eyes rest and close but don't shut them tightly.

Begin a pattern of even and regular breathing such as two counts to breathe in; two counts to breathe out; two counts to breathe in and continue. Keep up this rhythm without saying the counts.

After a minute begin reflecting on how personal peace leads to planetary peace.

When one individual in a family radiates peace it works as the sun. Loving care and kindness radiates from a peaceful person. It is not a question of the peaceful person being dull and boring; rather, the flowing energy of our innate harmony travels right through the peaceful one to radiate energetic love, unconditional love upon all those having contact with a person of peace.

First the individual's family, then relatives, community, spreading all around the world instantly. If we can see how information spreads instantly over the internet we get some idea of how waves of peace and love, harmony and accord can circle round and round the globe.

Finish your meditation with thoughts of appreciation for the goodness in your life. Resolve to let the model of the way His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama leads his life be an inspiration to you every day.

Take a deep breath, open your eyes, stretch out and go forward with appreciation and resolve to act kindly.

Article by Susan Kramer

The Dalai Lama - A Biography by Patricia Cronin Marcello is available from Amazon.com - read and recommended by my husband as a good choice to find out about his life ...

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Meditation for Teens and Adults
More than 70 offerings, from guided meditation techniques to on-the-go stress relief and relationship meditations interspersed with verse, and a section of special occasion prayers. 114 pages.