In Chinese thought, jade is very highly regarded, since it is said to embody the five cardinal virtues: charity, modesty, courage, justice and wisdom. For this reason, it can be used as an aid to meditation and a tool for self-development. At its simplest you might use a piece of jade simply to consider these virtues in a somewhat objective fashion, to enhance your understanding. A slightly more complex way of working with its deeper meaning is given below.
You will need:
A piece of jade, preferably polished
Paper
Pen
Method:
✤ Sit quietly and contemplate your piece of jade.
✤ Bring to mind each of the cardinal virtues in turn, deciding what part each plays in your life.
✤ Write down those aspects that you consider might need further consideration.
✤ For the next five days consider a single virtue each day in meditation, remembering to write down your insights or conclusions so that they may be considered at a later date.
✤ As you do this, be conscious that the jade is gradually becoming infused with your awareness and therefore becoming a powerful tool.
✤ When you feel ready to move onto the next stage of development, be aware that the Chinese also believe that the nine qualities of jade reflect the best attributes of humanity: Its smoothness suggests benevolence. Its polish, knowledge. Its firmness, righteousness. Its harmlessness, virtuous action. Its spotlessness, purity. Its imperishability, endurance. Visible flaws, ingenuousness Its tactile quality, morality. Its sound on being struck, music.
✤ In the same way as above, contemplate each of the stone’s features and its corresponding attributes and resolve to develop more of these within your life.
Your piece of jade can now be carried as an aide memoire to help you focus on those qualities which you feel you need to develop. The fact that you have spent quite a long time in drawing the inherent knowledge from the stone means that you can now have easy access to that knowledge when you are not able to do a full meditation.
