Elisha Goldstein - Year-End Message and Open Heart Meditation

Starting

Elisha Goldstein begins the heart-focused meditation by guiding listeners to find a comfortable position and breathe gently into the area of their heart. He emphasizes the importance of letting go of grievances and focusing on positive intentions. This practice aims to open the heart and foster feelings of love and compassion.

Taking a moment to get in a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down and allowing your eyes to close. And if that doesn't feel comfortable, you're always welcome to keep them open, just keeping a dull gaze towards the ground or your lap and begin by breathing gently into the area of your heart.

--- Elisha Goldstein

The meditation encourages participants to imagine a loved one and direct well-wishing intentions towards them 1.

   

Individuals

Goldstein then guides listeners to extend loving-kindness towards a difficult person in their life. He explains that this person shares the same desires for care and acceptance, and encourages participants to wish them happiness, health, safety, and ease. If this proves challenging, he advises turning the compassion back towards oneself.

Because in this moment, you are the one who is suffering, but if not, continue with the difficult person. Happy, healthy, feel safe, be at ease now seeing if you can grow from here to include all people, all people in the world, big and small, rich and poor, across colors and ethnicities, and including yourself.

--- Elisha Goldstein

This practice helps in cultivating compassion and understanding for others, even those who may cause irritation or frustration 2.

   

Global

The meditation expands to include all people, animals, and beings across the world. Goldstein encourages participants to wish well-being for everyone, regardless of their background or species. This universal approach aims to foster a sense of global compassion and interconnectedness.

May all beings near and far above me, below me, in front of me, behind me. Be happy, be healthy, feel safe, be at ease.

--- Elisha Goldstein

By extending these intentions universally, the meditation seeks to create a more compassionate and loving world 2.

   

Self-Love

Goldstein emphasizes the importance of self-directed compassion and well-wishing. He guides listeners to place their hand on their heart and wish themselves happiness, health, safety, and ease. This practice acknowledges that self-love is a crucial part of opening the heart and fostering overall well-being.

May I be happy, healthy, feel safe, be at ease.

--- Elisha Goldstein

He also suggests extending these intentions to neutral acquaintances, promoting a broader sense of compassion 3.