Meditation Class: Patience and Acceptance

Mantra for Tonight:

“I am exactly where I am meant to be.”

Introduction & Talk (about 2 minutes):

Tonight, we’ll reflect on patience and acceptance—two of the hardest, yet most freeing, qualities we can cultivate.

There’s a saying: “How long a minute feels depends on which side of the bathroom door you’re on.” We’ve all felt that, right? When we want something badly—healing, change, love—it’s as if time slows to a crawl. But life unfolds in its own rhythm, no matter how much we try to rush it.

Osho reminds us: “The Spring will come and the flowers will blossom—but you cannot force the Spring.” This is the heart of patience. It’s not about doing nothing; it’s about trusting that life moves forward at its own perfect pace.

And acceptance? It’s that deep breath we take when things aren’t going the way we hoped. It’s the moment we let go of fighting and open our hearts to what is. Sometimes, as the saying goes, “Good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”

We all have seasons when we feel like the caterpillar in its cocoon—alone, uncertain, and stuck. But that cocoon is where transformation happens.

So tonight, let’s practice surrendering our need to control. Let’s be still, breathe, and trust the process of becoming.

Metaphor: The Sand and the Tide

Imagine holding a handful of sand at the beach. The tighter you squeeze, the faster it slips through your fingers. But when you relax your hand, the sand sits gently in your palm, staying with you for as long as it’s meant to. Life is like that sand—and we are like the tide. We come in, we go out, and everything happens in its own time.

Quotes to Weave Into Your Guidance:

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

“Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.”

“A caterpillar must endure a season of isolation before it turns into a butterfly.” – Steven Aitchison

“I breathe in calmness, I breathe out stress. I inhale peace and tranquility, I exhale fear.”

“Surrender is to say ‘yes’ to life—and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you.” – Eckhart Tolle

Affirmations: Repeat softly, leaving space in between:

“I trust the timing of my life.”

“I accept what is and release what I cannot control.”

“I am safe to surrender.”

Closing: Gently bring them back, reminding them of the sand and the tide. Remind them that, just like nature, they are part of something bigger—a flow that cannot be rushed but always moves forward.

Closing Reflection (optional share at the end):

We are all learning, every day, how to let go and let life lead. And sometimes, the most courageous thing we can do is wait—with grace, with patience, and with faith.

Topic 2 – Trusting the Unseen Path
Talk:

When we’re walking a path and we can’t see what’s ahead, our natural instinct is to tense up, to plan every step, to try to control the unknown. But life isn’t a straight road—it’s full of twists, blind corners, and unexpected turns. The trick is to trust that even when we don’t see the whole picture, we are still moving forward.

This trust—faith—isn’t about closing our eyes and hoping for the best. It’s about letting go of needing to know and stepping into what Deepak Chopra calls “the wisdom of uncertainty.” Remember, you’ve made it through every hard thing so far.

The next step will appear when you’re ready.

Metaphor: The Foggy Bridge

Imagine driving across a long bridge in thick fog. You can only see a few feet ahead, but you keep moving, trusting the road will continue under your wheels. Life is that bridge—the whole thing is there, but you only see what you need for this moment.

Quotes:

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1

“Surrender is a gift you give yourself. Even though I can’t see where the river is flowing, I trust it will take me where I need to go.” – Debbie Ford

“The road is long and often lonely, but you’re simply shedding energies that no longer match your destiny.”

“It is better to travel well than to arrive.”

“Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary.”

Topic 3 – The Gift of Stillness
Talk:

We live in a world that pushes us to do—to always be busy, always be productive. But deep growth happens in stillness. Think of a seed buried underground—it looks like nothing is happening, but beneath the surface, roots are growing strong.

Stillness isn’t laziness. It’s a sacred pause. It’s choosing to be instead of do. And often, it’s in those quiet moments that clarity and insight arrive.

Tonight, give yourself permission to be still, and trust that your roots are growing even if you can’t yet see the branches.

Metaphor: The Tea Steeping

When you make tea, you can’t rush the process. You drop the bag in hot water and wait. It’s during the stillness that the flavor deepens. If you rush and pull it out too soon, the tea is weak. The same is true for us—our strength builds in stillness.

Quotes:

“Cease from trying to make the world different than it is. Center down.”

“Know that our lives are in one another’s hands.”

“Promise this world your love—for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, so long as we all shall live.”

“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.” – Pema Chödrön

“Unconditional spiritual surrender is the joy of letting go and stepping into infinite possibility.”

Topic 4 – Surrendering Control
Talk:

The ego loves control—it convinces us we are safe only when we’re in charge. But trying to control every detail of life is like trying to stop the tide with a broom. The real strength is in surrender. It’s not giving up—it’s opening up.

When we surrender, we don’t lose ourselves. We expand beyond the small self and step into alignment with something greater. The Universe, God, Source—whatever you call it—rushes in to support us when we release our grip.

Metaphor: The Kite in the Wind

A kite can only fly high when it stops fighting the wind and learns to move with it. Resistance pulls it down; surrender lifts it up. When you let go, you rise.

Quotes:

“The ego loves control. Surrender lets you break free.”

“Surrender is to say ‘yes’ to life—and see how life starts working for you.” – Eckhart Tolle

“The more patient you are, the quicker is the coming of spring.” – Osho

“Trust that life will bring you exactly what you need at exactly the right moment.”

“Let go and let the universe catch you.”

Topic 5 – The Strength in Letting Go
Talk:

We often think strength means holding on—pushing through, sticking it out. But sometimes the strongest thing we can do is let go. Letting go of old hurts, of control, of what no longer serves us isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.

We don’t let go to lose; we let go to make space for something new.

Tonight, as you breathe, allow yourself to feel what you’re ready to release. And remind yourself: you are making room for something better.

Metaphor: The Balloon Release

Think of a balloon in your hand. You’ve held onto it tightly for so long. But when you open your fingers and let it rise, it’s not a loss—it’s freedom, for the balloon and for you.

Quotes:

“Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”

“If you don’t have time for what matters, stop making time for what does not.”

“Anything you fear is teaching you courage to overcome that fear.” – Jackson Kiddard

“What we let go of makes space for what we are becoming.”

“I inhale peace and exhale fear.”

The warmth of the sun kissing your face – The chill of a breeze brushing your skin.

The softness of a freshly laundered blanket – The roughness of sandpaper under your fingertips.

The smell of fresh-cut grass – The sharp tang of vinegar.

The sweet taste of honey on your tongue – The bitter bite of dark coffee.

The cool smoothness of a marble countertop – The gritty texture of beach sand in your palm.

The brightness of stepping into sunlight – The soothing dimness of a candlelit room.

The crackling sound of a fireplace – The silence of a snowy landscape.

The sensation of warm bath water enveloping you – The shock of stepping into a cold swimming pool.

The fragrance of a blooming rose – The earthy scent of damp soil.

The tingling fizz of sparkling water – The creamy smoothness of melted chocolate.

The echo of your voice in an empty hall – The muffled quiet of a room full of thick curtains.

The vivid colors of a sunset – The muted grays of a foggy morning.

The weight of a heavy book in your hands – The lightness of a feather brushing your palm.

The sharp crack of thunder – The gentle patter of rain on the window.

The feeling of cool sheets as you slip into bed – The heat of the pavement under bare feet.

March 27, 2020 – Patience and Acceptance

“They say how long a minute is, essentially depends on which side of the bathroom door you are on.”

You cannot force things to happen before their time. The Spring Will come and the flowers will blossom, but you cannot force the Spring. The Rain will come, the clouds will cover the sky, the whole thirst of the earth will be gone- but you cannot force it. And this is the beauty… that the more patient you are, the quicker is the coming of Spring. ~ osho

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

“No matter how many times we burst into flames, we can always rise from the ashes. It’s okay to not be okay all the time. What a beautiful thing it is to be able to stand tall and say, “I fell apart, and I survived.”

“Sometimes good things fall apart, so better things can fall in their place.”

“If you don’t have time for what matters, stop making time for what does not.”

“Accept what is, Let go of what was and have faith in what will be.”

“A caterpillar must endure a season of isolation before it turns into a butterfly. Embrace the time you have alone, it will only make you stronger.” ~Steven Aitchison

“I breathe in calmness, I breathe out stress. I inhale peace and tranquility, I exhale fear.”

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. Robert Louis Stevenson

Unconditional Spiritual Surrender

In the Vedic texts, spiritual surrender is referred to as the “joy of surrender.” It is the wonderful, positive feeling you have when you simply let go. It’s stepping out of all limitations, expanding beyond your usual conditioning, and opening to infinite possibilities. It’s offering up the small self or personal identity to that of the absolute.

In the Bible, Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

The ego loves to control everything. It creates the boundaries and limitations in which you imprison yourself. Surrender allows you to break free and step into what Deepak Chopra calls “the wisdom of uncertainty.” With surrender, you can connect fully with your source where the whole universe conspires to support you. You can become timeless, eternal, infinite, joy-filled, and fearless. Individual aspirations and desires are surrendered to a higher power. Your individual desires dissolve into “Thy will be done.”

Eckhart Tolle says, “Surrender is to say ‘yes’ to life—and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you.”

Debbie Ford says, “Surrender is a gift that you can give yourself. It’s an act of faith. It’s saying that even though I can’t see where this river is flowing, I trust it will take me in the right direction.”

When you are evolving to your higher self, the road is long and lonesome, but you’re simply shedding energies that no longer match the frequency of your destiny. The hardest walk is walking alone, but it’s also the walk that makes you the strongest.”

“It is better to travel well than to arrive.”

Life is amazing. Then it’s awful. And then it’s amazing again. And in-between the amazing and awful it’s ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary.

“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.” – Pema Chödrön

“Anything that annoys you is for teaching you patience.

Anyone who abandons you is for teaching you how to stand up on your own two feet.

Anything that angers you is for teaching you forgiveness and compassion.

Anything that has power over you is for teaching you how to take your power back.

Anything you hate is for teaching you unconditional love.

Anything you fear is for teaching you courage to overcome your fear.

Anything you can’t control is for teaching you how to let go and trust the Universe”

― Jackson Kiddard

In Exodus 31:12–17: the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: ‘Verily ye shall keep My sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the LORD who sanctify you

Pandemic

What if you thought of it

as the Jews consider the Sabbath —

the most sacred of times?

Cease from travel.

Cease from buying and selling.

Give up, just for now,

on trying to make the world

different than it is.

Sing. Pray. Touch only those

to whom you commit your life.

Center down.

And when your body has become still,

reach out with your heart.

Know that we are connected

in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.

(You could hardly deny it now.)

Know that our lives

are in one another’s hands.

(Surely, that has come clear.)

Do not reach out your hands.

Reach out your heart.

Reach out your words.

Reach out all the tendrils

of compassion that move, invisibly,

where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love–

for better or for worse,

in sickness and in health,

so long as we all shall live.

Lynn Ungar is a poet, and wrote this poem on March 11, 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.