Practicing loving kindness in our daily lives is the easiest gift we can give to one another that always comes back to us. Here’s a great article I found at the Huffington Post:
by Mindful living advocate Marguerite Manteau-Rao.
I remember the first time I was introduced to loving kindness, during a weeklong retreat with Jack Kornfield at Joshua Tree. That was many years ago. Back then, Jack’s sweet words were met with a categorical refusal on my part, and a string of dismissive thoughts:
Don’t ask me to be kind.
This is not how I feel.
This is stupid.
Fast forward 15 years later. Loving kindness has become an integral part of my daily life — a practice I routinely call upon when the emotions get to be too much, or when my heart aches for another person.
Feeling fear, I relax into the arms of loving kindness. May I be at peace, may I be at ease, may I be well, may I be happy, may I be free from fear …
Feeling anger, I whisper those same words in the privacy of my mind and heart. May I have compassion for myself. May I suffuse that anger inside with love. May I free myself from it.
Feeling worry, I calm myself down, and bring myself back to the present moment, gently. May I be free of worry, may I be at peace.
Feeling grief, I soothe myself. May I be at peace, may I be at ease. May all beings be at peace.
Feeling the anguish of loved ones or people I hardly know, I write them lovingly kind words. A quick email, a tweet, or a private thought. May you be free from suffering, may you be at peace, may you be at ease.
Same with those who are difficult, and cause me to pause. May you be free from suffering, may you find peace, my heart is with you.
