Four Stages of Meditation

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    Sara-Mai ConwayPublished September 24, 2020 · Updated April 8, 2024 · 1 min read

    Guided Script

    Four Stages of Meditation

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    Printable Worksheet

    Four Stages of Meditation

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    A mindful companion to this worksheet

    A mindful approach to four stages of meditation

    “Four Stages of Meditation” is an invitation to slow down and meet your experience with curiosity, honesty, and kindness — three qualities that quietly transform everything they touch.

    How mindfulness can help

    Mindfulness offers a steady inner ground from which to engage any topic. Instead of being swept along by reaction, we learn to notice what is here — sensations, thoughts, feelings — and respond from a place of presence rather than pressure.

    Gentle steps to try

    1. Begin with the breath. Take three slow breaths before opening the worksheet. Let your body remember it is here.
    2. Read with curiosity. Move through each prompt slowly. Notice which questions soften you, and which ones tighten you.
    3. Write what is true now. There are no right answers — only honest ones. The truth at this moment is what the worksheet is asking for.
    4. Close with one breath. When you finish, pause. Place a hand on your heart and acknowledge yourself for showing up.

    Insight does not arrive on a schedule. Trust the practice of returning, the courage of honesty, and the slow unfolding of your own becoming.

    Here’s a Sample of the “Four Stages of Meditation” Guided Meditation Script:

    Sit comfortably in a quiet, safe placeBalance a tall, upright posture with a sense of relaxationLet your shoulders release, and your belly softenBreathe quietly in and out through your noseAnd let yourself quietly rejoice in the fact that you are hereSeated, present, you’ve begun this sacred processOf watching your breathRejoice in the fact that of all the things you could be doingYou have chosen to prioritizeThis moment of quiet, this moment of stillnessThis moment of peaceOvercoming laziness is the first stage of meditationRecognize the strength of your resolveTo stay the path of mindfulnessTo practice dailyAnd then set an intention, to remain present with breathWatch the breath as it moves in and out through your noseFeel the breath as it moves down past your shoulders,Into your chest

    Feel how the movement of the bodyIs intricately tied to the breathAnd remain present here, present with breath(pause 3 breaths)Of course the mind will wanderAs soon as you notice the mind has wandered,Remember the instructionsRemember your intention,To remain present with breathAgain and again,As many times as you need toNotice the wandering mindAnd come back to the breathRemember the instructions is the second stage of mediation(pause 3 breaths)

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