About This Lesson

The Adams family has dinner and it does not go well. The parents are not present. Jane lectures her father. Grandpa excuses himself to the patio and begins his tea ceremony. His daughter Jane joins him shortly after. As she participates in the ceremony, she is able to join grandpa not only physically, but also in a state of presence. In presence, they share a beautiful interaction and a loving kindness grows between them. Eckhart explains that “one of the effects of being present is that you begin to emanate loving kindness between humans. As they share in the tea ceremony, you can notice Grandpa’s stillness. When you put your full attention on something that you are doing in the moment, a stillness arises in you. As your mind becomes still, another intelligence arises. This is a state of presence that is above thinking. In this state, you can be so alert and present that you don’t have to think.”

1When have you experienced moments of stillness? Can you describe it? What did it feel like?

 

2What benefits have you noticed from having your full attention on what you are doing in that moment?

 

3Can you recall the feeling you get when you are falling asleep and you are too tired to think? How does that feeling differ from your experience of stillness?

Creating an opportunity to be present with one or more family members can lead to a meaningful interaction that can strengthen relationships both with yourself and others. The Rainbow Visualization can be shared with family members in any setting and can be done sitting or laying down. Parents can read the following script slowly, allowing a few seconds for each ‘colour’ and what it represents…

“Close your eyes, focus your mind and imagine a beautiful rainbow in the sky. We believe that the colours of the rainbow are in each and every one of us. Be still, breathing calmly and picture the colour red. (pause) You are strong.
Now picture the colour orange. (pause) You are happy.
Now picture yellow. (pause) You are proud and confident!
Remain still and imagine the colour green. (pause) You are kind.
Now picture the colour blue. (pause) You are honest.
Imagine the colour indigo. Indigo is the colour of the deep midnight sky. (pause) You are clever and creative.
And the final colour to picture is violet. (pause) You are a good friend to yourself and others.
Take a few deep breaths and then slowly, gently open your eyes.”

* Parents please note that this should take approximately 1 – 2 minutes to complete.