Our world is on fire and in desperate need of compassion and care. Lovingkindness frees the heart so that compassion can arise. Compassion gifts us the courage to be moved by suffering, and to move towards it rather than away from it. When we meet suffering the journey towards liberation begins.
This "Sacred Circle of Well Wishing" Guided Meditation includes visualization & somatic metta practice working with the main categories in Metta Practice - Self, Benefactor, Good Friend, Familiar Stranger, Difficult Person and All Beings.
An overview of metta practice and two methods of practicing metta (through phrases and through “radiating metta”), followed by a guided practice period and a few Q&A.
On the first evening of a four-week retreat for some, and the beginning of the fifth of eight weeks for others, we explore the “map” of our foundational practices: (1) developing wise or right view and intention; (2) samatha practice, developing concentration (or samadhi); (3) insight practice, with mindfulness as a core practice; (4) the heart practices, particularly lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity; (5) grounding in the body; and (6) touching freedom and awakening.
This mindful body scan leads us into a practice of relaxing back into awareness, and recognizing the changing waves of sensations, sounds and feelings in the foreground. As we let go into the sea of presence, we discover am increasing sense of wholeness and peace. The meditation ends with a brief lovingkindness prayer.
A talk on the Buddha's Teaching of three roots of happiness: non-greed, non-hatred and non-delusion. Stating each in a positive way they are 1) Letting go/Generosity, 2) Loving-Kindness 3)Clarity/Wisdom.
As part of the talk I share some personal stories of how my different paths of Buddhism and the Hindu path of devotion converged around these three qualities.
Non-Greed, Non-Hatred and Non-Delusion were taught by the Buddha as the three roots of happiness. Stating each in a positive way they are 1) Letting go/Generosity, 2) Loving-Kindness and ClarityWisdom. Every moment that we're mindful we're cultivating these qualities. This talk explores both the moment-to-moment as well as the relational aspects of these three qualities.
