Loving Kindness meditation (Dacher, 2006 pg. 93)
In a relaxed position after taking a few minutes to ease your mind close your eyes and repeat the following phrase for the next 10 minutes.
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.
After the first 2 minutes of repeating this I started to analyze it because that is just my nature. At first I wanted to know how this would actually take place. What was the Divine’s responsibility, the universes’ responsibility and what part was my responsibility. The next problem I encountered was wondering just exactly what I would have to do to help people gain freedom from suffering and assist them in finding health, happiness, and wholeness. I continued to repeat the phrase over and over until my mind was at ease and a warm feeling of security and peace came over me. It was like a light bulb going on. I do not have all the answers at this time but my thoughts, love and actions of kindness will help in a positive way the entire universe from my sitting here just projecting the loving-kindness into the atmosphere. A image came into my mind of something very familiar to me. I love the water and take my daughter to swim at the river almost every day. I taught her how to skip rocks and how the final plunge of the rock starts a small ring and progressively increases in size till it looks as if the entire area has been moved by the one small stone. I saw this image in my head and imagined that my arm was my center where I held the rock (my thoughts of loving kindness) and as I released the metaphorical rock it skipped across the universe and landed on the very person that needed to be helped. The waves of loving kindness stirred that person and all people that surrounded that one person until the entire universe was affected by that one metaphorical rock. Not just people as the rock in the river does not simply ripple the water but it also stirs the sand, vibrations reaching to the fish and animals that live in the water sending the bugs that float on top of the water to take flight into the trees. It is a chain reaction set off by one stone. Our one thought of loving-kindness directed to even just one person or group of people has the possibility that the entire universe can be touched.
Results from the integral assessment:
1. The parts of my life that are the most significant sources of stress are pretty superficial. My body image is distressing to me my lack of discipline to eat right and exercise enough to be in good physical shape having caused me to not enjoy many things to their full extent. I am self-conscience when it comes to being in my swimsuit going to the river. Luckily we are there in a remote area with not many people. I have a huge loud voice in my head that says no matter where you are who you talk to or what you do no one will accept you everyone is making fun of the way you look, talk act and dress and you do not belong here. It could be anywhere even with just my family around. I do not meet up to their idea of success, beauty or spiritual beliefs. I feel as if there is no one that will accept me for who I am inside or out. Wow did I just write that. I cannot believe I am sharing this with everyone.
2. I have focused on short term relief most of my life. I am sure that is why I am in the shape I am in. I am overweight and have been single and celibate for 10 yrs. That is because I do not trust anyone and that brings on depression anger and loneliness that in turn brings on the short term relief of comfort food.
3. I do not have now a long term inner self sustained ability to flourish that is why I am taking this class to hopefully gain knowledge in how to achieve that very thing.
4. I am just now begining to develop the psychospiritual aspect of my life in a healthy way. In the past I have suppressed my true beliefs and taken on the belief that everything that I believe that was not written in the bible I would go to hell for believing. Half of my family made sure that every belief and teaching from the other half of my family was driving me straight to the Devil. I am 41 yrs. old now and I am taking a stand. I will believe that which I know to be true deep inside me (that is that I am not going to hell and furthermore there is no bottomless pit where the Devil lives to torture you). I am one with all creation and that the same spirit that lives in me also lives in all creatures. That nature is our healing place and our mind can go past our physical body. I am Native American Indian I believe in the old ways and I am beginning to gain a great amount of peace through connecting with my ancestors and spiritual guides.
5. I realize the need for a spiritual guide and have by the grace of our Great Creator I was given one.
6. I will look over and reassess my integral health many times over my life but this is where I stand now. I am at the door of new beginnings where the balance of all things are coming together and I can reach out my hand and grab a hold of this existence called integral health.
HI Angel, once again this is a great post and thank you for sharing your inner thoughts. We all struggle with one of the four quadrents in our lives. I think that with meditation and practice you will reach your goals of losing wieght and eating healthier. I think that when we meditate we see parts of us that we never did before and see the areas that we need to work on. I think that once this is achieved then we can begin to heal. I need to work on my spirituality. I often struggle with having the courage and confidience to succeed in my goals and dreams. I have way to much mind chatter and need to relax more. Although I have come a long way over the past few years, I still have to deal with some struggles. I exercise regulary and I am a vegan so, I have the strengh and endurance to run distances but, I still have that self negative talk. I make myself be aware of it and move on to more positive things. When I am feeling down I will go for a run, bike ride or cook something that I enjoy. I really liked how you discribed the short meditation practice and tring to figure out how those sentences would be helpful to us personally. I think that it reminds us to let go of our own actions and reach out to others who are in need.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
Angel,
ReplyDeleteWhat a simply beautiful and honest post! I always enjoy reading your experience because of a connection you have within yourself and the world around you. I am a firm believer of our connection and bond with our world, universe and being. I feel that when we connect and accept our inner being and presence, we are able to naturally fall into the rhythm of life.
I experience the precious connection when I hike every morning and participate in a 15 to 20 minute meditation atop the Sandia Mountain. I feel a connection not only deep within myself and my existence, but I feel a strong connection and peace with the earth and all that lives here.
Anyway, I totally loved the Universal Loving-Kindness practice because it helped me tremendously with my current relocation to Sheridan, Wyoming. It is almost like a grieving process, but this exercise has given me the gift of insight to the wonders and change that is waiting for me to experience and live.
Well, I just wanted to say, again, you posted another excellent blog. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
Later,
Naomi
Hi, Angel another great post. I like that your honest and not afraid to express yourself. With hard work and the strength that I know you have, you will accomplish your goal. Keep the positive influence around you.
ReplyDeleteBeverly
Angel,
ReplyDeleteI find your posts inspiring every week. I am with you I enjoyed the meditation exercise a lot and while it took me a while to really get into I found it calming and have since incorporated into my daily focus exercise. It sounds like you have a really good grasp on who you are. I am a preachers kid so I completely understand your comments regarding church teachings and hell and while I haven't quite been able to break my bonds with how I was raised I am in the process of spiritual growth and I am interested on seeing where it takes me. Thank you so much for being so open with your posts.