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Bridle Meditation

Gary Purse, a religion professor at BYU-Idaho, has great enthusiasm and interest in the prominent religions of Asia and India. He has met with many leaders and members of those religions, who have enlightened him about their beliefs and customs. Noticing that meditation was a common practice among all of them, he concluded that it was a beneficial practice and began to observe it himself.

Using principles of the restored gospel, Brother Purse developed what he calls bridle meditation. It is based on the council given to Shiblon by his father, Alma:

"see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love;" (Alma 38:40)

This method of meditation includes clearing the mind, remembering blessings, and extending love to others. It is a gift of peace that you can give to yourself. It can be done anywhere and can last a few minutes or hours.

BREATHE

When you have set aside a few moments for meditation, it is important to find a place where you can be alone with your thoughts. It could be in the temple, by a window, alone in nature, or even in the bathroom.

When you have found a quiet place, find a comfortable position. Perhaps sit in a chair, on the floor, lie down or even sit at a desk with your head resting on your arms. Find what is most comfortable to you.

Close your eyes. Breathe slowly and calmly. Release the things that occupy your mind. If a thought pops up, acknowledge it, then let it go. Keep in mind that it is a different feeling than going to sleep. It is a search for inner stillness. This may take a few seconds or a few minutes. It is different for each person each day.

REMEMBER

 Next, take a few moments to remember happy things that have happened recently. A beautiful sunrise. Success at something important to you. A kind gesture from a friend. Enjoy the inner smile that grows with each of these remembered blessings.

LOVE

Continue to the next experience of being “filled with love.” Begin by thinking of beloved people to you. Family members. Very close friends. Those you admire. Think of them by name and wish them well; wish them specific things that will bring them joy and peace. For example, you can think, “Mom, I wish you time and energy to do the things you enjoy, peace of mind, and that you’ll feel the love of your family.” Continue with 

those that come to mind in your circle of beloved people.

Next, think of neutral people and wish them well. These are the people who you tend to see every day but don’t necessarily know. They could be the cashier at the grocery store, a person you walk by at the park, the homeless man on the corner. Think of them and wish them well.

Finally, think of the “angsters.” These are people who cause you anxiety, grief, or any other negative emotion. Think of them by name and wish them specific things that will bring them greater happiness. This is the most difficult group of people to love, but also brings the greatest peace as you exert your efforts to “love your enemies.”

To finish, wish wellness to yourself and acknowledge the light within you.