Practice p. 93: Universal Loving-Kindness
This practice was a fun practice for me. I actually practice this quite often in my everyday life. I work with others suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. I have worked with people on a volunteer basis for over eleven years now. My daily meditation is based on the capacity of empathic listening, seeing, and caring for others with an open heart, sensitivity, generosity, and emotional intimacy and I spread it to all my relationships both known and unknown. My hopes and prayers are based on the lines below.
May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.
May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.
May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.
May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness.
This mini-practice is quite powerful in expanding the mind and heart that serves as an antidote to anger and hatred. It shifts the focus from personal love to universal loving-kindness. It works and I know it does because I practice it daily, I did not learn it on my own. It was taught to me by another who I consider my spiritual advisor.
Assessment Process:
My honest assessment is I have developed very strong personal relationships in my life. My emotional development is very strong also. I have no problems with my work and there are no immediate concerns in regards to work, personal and social relationships. An area I chose to be a focus of need for growth and development is fitness. I am not physically fit and I am not happy with my current physical situation. Some specific exercises and activities I can implement to foster greater wellness in this area is finding time to take walks and eat healthy foods. I also need to quit smoking and I have actually set a day to quit. I plan to use some of the practice meditation exercises during the times I would be smoking. I understand that when we stop one thing we need to replace it with something more powerful to overcome the obsessive and compulsive behaviors and emotions that I will experience from going cold turkey from smoking.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts! It sounds like you have an amazing path when it comes to your work. I read a line from Dacher that I think is really powerful that reminds me of your blog. "...the moment we are are face-to-fae with another invividual, there is always a precious opportunity for open-heartedness, loving-kindness, empathic listening, and presence". Great job on your work!
The assessment process is a great way to find out what areas we need to work on. I think that it is great set a date to quit smoking. For me, without a date set for change, I would not follow through with my plans.
I enjoyed your blog!
Amanda Franco