Zen Buddhists, Love, and Other Things
Hi. I'm sitting with feeling a bit low, lately, and missing what it would be like, to keep in touch with that new friend.
One of the books I shared with that friend was How to Love, by Thich Nhat Hanh. It's a compilation of Hanh's essays. Some are real zingers.
There's also one called Love Meditation, that's been staying with me, lately. It's also called Metta Meditation. It goes like this:
May I be peaceful, happy, and light in body and spirit.
May I be safe and free from injury.
May I be free from anger, afflictions, fear, and anxiety.
May I learn to look at myself with the eyes of understanding and love.
May I be able to recognize and touch the seeds of joy and happiness in myself.
May I learn to identify and see the sources of anger, craving, and delusion in myself.
May I know how to nourish the seeds of joy in myself every day.
May I ve able to live fresh, solid, and free.
May I be free from attachment and aversion, but not be indifferent.
The idea is to say this meditation first for yourself. You can't help others until you're well.
Then, you say it for someone you like. Then someone you feel neutral about. then someone you love, and finally on "someone the mere thought of whom causes you suffering". :D
That maybe after this, you may feel some compassion for such a person. <3
A big one. But, I like it. :) xoxo
In other news: I think I'm having a diverticulitis attack. Will go in to doctor tomorrow morning!
One of the books I shared with that friend was How to Love, by Thich Nhat Hanh. It's a compilation of Hanh's essays. Some are real zingers.
There's also one called Love Meditation, that's been staying with me, lately. It's also called Metta Meditation. It goes like this:
May I be peaceful, happy, and light in body and spirit.
May I be safe and free from injury.
May I be free from anger, afflictions, fear, and anxiety.
May I learn to look at myself with the eyes of understanding and love.
May I be able to recognize and touch the seeds of joy and happiness in myself.
May I learn to identify and see the sources of anger, craving, and delusion in myself.
May I know how to nourish the seeds of joy in myself every day.
May I ve able to live fresh, solid, and free.
May I be free from attachment and aversion, but not be indifferent.
The idea is to say this meditation first for yourself. You can't help others until you're well.
Then, you say it for someone you like. Then someone you feel neutral about. then someone you love, and finally on "someone the mere thought of whom causes you suffering". :D
That maybe after this, you may feel some compassion for such a person. <3
A big one. But, I like it. :) xoxo
In other news: I think I'm having a diverticulitis attack. Will go in to doctor tomorrow morning!