a starting point for inner peace

H.H. the Dalai Lama:

It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.

When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.

Starting with Metta Meditation

I have practised Metta Meditation on and off over the years. Perhaps now is a good time to mindfully reconnect with this classic practice. By mindfully I mean for me to notice what really arises when I say each phrase, stay fully present to my embodied experience. Notice the spaciousness of acceptance and also the pockets of resistance.

METTA is the word in the Pali Language that means "Loving-Kindness".

Metta is one of the more important of the teachings of the Buddha. Often it is learned via guided meditations.

Sharon Salzburg has described loving-kindness as the revolutionary art of happiness. It is an art of connection to self and to others.

Metta Phrases

from: http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/6774/metta.htm

Metta is often practiced by silently repeating several phrases directed initially at oneself, and then successively to a benefactor, a friend, a neutral person, a difficult person and to all beings. The original phrases suggested by the Buddha are as follows:

• May I be free of troubles of mind and body.
• May I be free from enmity.
• May I be free from hurtfulness.
• May I be able to protect my own happiness.
• May you be free of troubles of mind and body.
• May you be free from enmity.
• May you be free from hurtfulness.
• May you be able to protect your happiness.
• May all beings be free of troubles of mind and body.
• May all beings be free from enmity.
• May all beings be free from hurtfulness.
• May all beings be able to protect their happiness.

Often today, different phrases are taught, such as

• May I/you/all beings be happy.
• May I/you/all beings be healthy.
• May I/you/all beings be safe.
• May I/you/all beings be peaceful.

What’s most important is to use phrases that are meaningful to you – and not too complex; simple is better.

But do notice how much easier it is to say the original phrases to someone you have great difficulty with – for example your least favourite politician or a terrorist. It might be quite difficult to wish that very difficult people be happy, healthy & safe (maybe you can do the peaceful phrase). But you certainly can wish that those very difficult people be free of troubles of mind – after all, then they would not be so difficult. And maybe their difficulty stems in part of from troubles of body, so maybe you can do that part as well. And certainly you can wish they be free of enmity and hurtfulness. And when you understand that the only happiness that can be protected is that which is generated via wise and wholesome actions, you can even wish difficult people have happiness that can be protected.

I have noticed that using the pronoun “we” helps me feel a part of the whole. To feel connected, embraced and contributing.

May we all be happy.

May we all be safe and well.

May we all meet our needs peacefully.

May we all ….