“Even as the storm raged, he did not stir. The Buddha remained in stillness, and the Naga wrapped around him in quiet devotion.”

Preparation (2–3 minutes)

• Find a comfortable seated position. Ideally, sit cross-legged on a cushion, or on a chair with your feet flat on the ground.

• Rest your hands in Dhyana Mudra (palms upward in your lap, right hand on top of the left, thumbs lightly touching).

• Gently close your eyes or keep them softly lowered.

• Take a few deep, slow breaths—inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth. Let the tension begin to melt from your body.

Body Awareness (2–3 minutes)

Bring attention to your body.

• Feel the base of your spine connecting with the earth.

• Allow your shoulders to drop and your jaw to soften.

• Let your breath become natural and unforced.

With each exhalation, imagine sinking gently into stillness—like the Buddha beneath the Bodhi tree.

Visualization: The Bodhi Tree and the Storm (5 minutes)

Now, in your mind’s eye, picture yourself seated beneath the Bodhi tree, just as the Buddha once did.

• The earth is warm beneath you. The sky is dim. A distant storm is approaching.

• The winds begin to rise. Rain falls. Thunder rumbles. Around you, the world begins to shift.

Yet you remain still.

Say silently to yourself:
“I am unmoved. I rest in awareness.”

Now, imagine from the earth beneath you, the great serpent Mucalinda arises.

• Coiling beneath you, he lifts and steadies your body.

• His strong, sacred coils form a throne of support.

• His seven majestic heads fan out above you, forming a hood of protection.

• His presence is calm, steady, and ancient.

With Mucalinda around you, the storm cannot touch you. You are sheltered. You are safe.

Breathe into this feeling of safety and stillness.

Affirmations for Inner Refuge (2–3 minutes)

With each breath, silently repeat a phrase:

🕉️ “I am still like the Buddha.”
🕉️ “I am protected like the Naga’s embrace.”
🕉️ “I trust the path of awakening.”
🕉️ “No storm can disturb the truth within me.”

Feel these words become more than thoughts—feel them become reality.

Closing the Visualization (2 minutes)

Now, slowly allow the image to dissolve.

• The rain stops.

• The sky clears.

• Mucalinda, the Naga, bows to you with reverence and returns to the earth.

• The tree stands tall. You remain seated in peace.

Let yourself sit in pure stillness for a few final breaths.

Returning to the Present Moment (1–2 minutes)

Gently begin to bring your awareness back.

• Feel the ground beneath you.

• Feel the breath in your chest.

• Wiggle your fingers and toes.

When you are ready, open your eyes.

🌿 Reflection

You may wish to reflect on or journal:

• What is my inner storm?

• What protects me in my practice and in life?

• What does stillness feel like when I trust it fully?

🕯️ Conclusion

The story of the Naga and the meditating Buddha teaches us that when we are steady in our practice, unseen forces support us. Inner peace is not the absence of storms—it is the presence of shelter within.

Whenever life feels turbulent, you can return to this image. Sit beneath your own Bodhi tree, and know that like the Buddha, you are held, centered, and watched over.