I did like the focus of the practice, starting with a loved one, then shifting to myself, then to a loved one who is suffering, on to strangers who are suffering and then embracing all human beings- even those considered enemies. The focus on my loved ones and myself was not all that difficult. I can see that the more that this is practiced, it can become more of an automatic response throughout the day, without having to find the time to sit and meditate. I can see where with practice, as the thoughts of a loved one or one who might be suffering enter my mind, I can stop for a few moments and turn my thoughts toward that person. In a way, I kind of do that in my prayer life right now.
Enlarging the focus of the practice to include a circle of strangers and then to humanity is a big step. I can see that these areas are going to take more practice, but I don't feel that it is beyond what I am capable of. I do hold compassion for people, but I can see that there is a difference between having compassion about the suffering in the world and doing something about this suffering. Continued practice of this loving-kindness exercise will undoubtedly increase my awareness and my intentions to help find healing in the hurting world.
continue to move toward optimal flourishing. This undoubtedly takes practice on a daily basis, just like exercise is necessary on a daily basis for physical health. In order for me to begin to engage in mental workouts, I think it is important that I make them a priority, just as I do with exercise, eating, sleeping and breathing. Intentionally setting aside time to engage in contemplative practice is essential.
Dacher, E.S. (2006). Integral health, the pathway to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications.
Yes, I had the same experience! It was easy to feel the love and emotion as you thought about your loved ones and as you tried to feel that same way for strangers and mankind it did not feel the same. However, like you said with practice all things develop and get better so we would assume this would as well.
ReplyDeleteI liked the exercise and I can see how working to develop the mind into feeling loving kindness for all people would bring peace, wisdom, and a deep inner flourishing to ones life. If all people developed this we would not have war, hatred, or any violence for that matter.
I really enjoyed this exercise. My heart felt as if it expanded and opened up when I was doing this. I didn't have a hard time focusing on loved ones and people that I knew. As you both stated you had a hard time feeling love for strangers I did as well. I think from all we go through in life it makes it hard to feel loving kindness towards those we don't know. Unless they are suffering. Which is sad but true.
ReplyDeleteI liked the exercise but I don't think that it is something I would do on a regular basis. It would take practice weekly in order to get good at it. It just wasn't easy to do and I couldn't get into it. Of course I had immense love for my family while doing the exercise.
I was definitely in the same boat as you. It is easy to look at yourself and loved ones and picture ways to help them, but it is much harder to look at the world as a whole and accept that there is suffering and embrace it as life, instead of wanting to go out and do something about it. To be honest, I think it is harder to thing of the world as a whole because we don't have that loving connection to people outside of our circle of friends and family. To be able to train our minds to have compassion for all people and to think of them in the same ways that we do the people closest to us, would be a great feat, and like you said, it is something we are capable of doing with time and practice. I think this was great exercise and an eye opener to the wonderful things we can do with some good old mental fitness :)
ReplyDeleteCheri,
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a good exercise, but I agree with you that in order to get anything out of it I am going to have to put time aside each day to practice the exercise. A good mental workout is exactly like a physical one as you said, and if you go about it with the same mindset then I believe it can be very useful. Good blog.