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The Peace Meditation of Loving-Kindness
Begin by repeating the following phrases over and over
for 15-20 minutes once or twice daily in a quite place for several months.
At first this meditation may feel mechanical or awkward or even bring
up the opposite feelings of irritation and anger. If this happens, it
is especially important to be patient and kind toward yourself, allowing
whatever arises to be received in a spirit of friendliness and kind
affection. In its own time, even in the face of inner difficulties,
loving- kindness will develop."
"Sit in a comfortable fashion. Let your body relax and be at rest.
As best you can, let your mind be quiet, letting go of plans and preoccupations.
Then begin to recite inwardly the following phrases directed to yourself.
You begin with yourself because without loving yourself it is almost
impossible to love others."
May I be filled with loving-kindness
May I be well
May I be peaceful and at ease
May I be happy
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As you say the phrases, you may also wish to picture yourself as a young
and beloved child, or sense yourself as you are now, held in the heart
of loving-kindness. Repeat the phrases again and again, letting the
feelings permeate your body and mind.
When you feel ready, in the same meditation period you can gradually
expand the focus of your loving-kindness to include others. After yourself,
choose a benefactor, someone in your life who has truly cared for you.
Picture them and carefully recite the same phrases: May he/she be filled
with loving- kindness and so forth.
When loving-kindness for your benefactor has developed, begin to include
other people you love in the meditation, picturing them and reciting
the same phrases, evoking a sense of loving-kindness for them.
After this, you can gradually begin to include others: friends, community
members, neighbors, people everywhere, animals, the whole earth, and
all beings. Then you can even experiment with including the most difficult
people in your life, wishing that they, too, be filled with loving-kindness
and peace. With some practice a steady sense of loving-kindness can
develop and in the course of 15 or 20 minutes you will be able to include
many beings in your meditation, moving from yourself, to a benefactor
and loved ones, to all beings everywhere.
Then you can learn to practice it anywhere. You can use this meditation
in traffic jams, in buses and airplanes, in doctors' waiting rooms,
in a thousand other circumstances. As you silently practice this loving-kindness
meditation among people, you will immediately feel a wonderful connection
with them -- the power of loving-kindness. It will calm your life and
keep you connected to your heart.
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