How to use the meditations
1. Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed.
2. Read through the whole meditation a few times, then put it down.
3. Sit in a position both comfortable and alert.
4. Allow the meditation 10 minutes or so in your imagination. Do not give up before this time; stay with it.
5. Allow another 10 minutes for recording what happened. Allow events to develop as you record. |
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MEDITATION 42
THE MOST EXCELLENT HOSPITAL
It was a most excellent hospital; a marvellous building, space well used.
For a start, it turned no one away, whatever their condition or complaint.
Some were not well in their body; others, unwell in their mind. Others collapsed through loss of spirit. All sorts of conditions – but all allowed through the doors.
Some of the patients were rather rude and not good company. But hospital workers knew that pain makes people self-centred and resentful sometimes.
Other patients had been made ugly by illness and suffering – but were held and cared for like all the others.
(There was once a consultant at the hospital, who took it upon himself to decide who was acceptable – and who wasn't. He got away with it because he was high up, well spoken and people thought he should be listened to. But he turned out to be mad, and was asked to leave.)
No patients stayed at the hospital permanently. They passed through – but did not make their home there. Sometimes they left after a few hours, better for care; others, after a few weeks. Some were referred onto other places, which could help more.
It was a most excellent hospital; and as I say, space well used.
Today
Today, we shall be the most excellent hospital; space well used.
Emotions, reactions and impressions will arrive – some cheerfully, others much less so. But we will allow them all, whether they hobble in or arrive confident and sure.
Not all the arrivals will be pleasant. But that's often how the hurting are; they lash out sometimes, and can be destructive, until they find some sort of peace.
These emotions and feelings are not us, any more than a patient is the hospital.
We greet them, allow them, hold them, and then send them on their way.
Oh – and we don't allow the mad consultant any power... he's left, of course, but we still need to be aware of his legacy.
More one-minute mysticism |
