Loving-Kindness Meditation

A work-in-progress Loving-Kindness Meditation is HERE (https://youtu.be/7DTjCJD9ozU)

Another model of Loving-Kindness Meditation is HERE (from Greater Good in Action). Compelling aspects of it include:

  • thinking of mentors – even those who have passed – and including them in this meditation
  • “Sending Loving-Kindness to All Living Beings (picture the whole globe in front of you as a little ball:) … Just as I wish to, may you live with ease, happiness, and good health;” ;

A Christian Playbook work-in-progress practice is indented below:

Bring to mind people iteratively as you share this Loving-Kindness Meditation:

    • those who’ve shared loving-kindness with you in the past (those living and those who’ve passed on);
    • family/friend (those living and/or those who’ve passed on);
    • someone in your sphere undergoing challenges;
    • those whose lives you cannot touch (perhaps the whole globe, as noted above)

Meditate on the following, with hand motions to aid in the feelings:

      1. may you discover joy in unexpected places (arms reaching out in discovery mode)
      2. may you feel supported (hands at waist, palms up as if holding)
      3. may you feel safe (hands/arms in virtual hug)
      4. may you feel loved (hands placed over heart)
      5. may you feel strengthened (arms in classic “showing muscles” pose)
      6. may you recognize the importance of your presence in our world (hands cupped at sides of eyes, as though looking at mirror)
      7. [use this one where applicable, especially for leaders who may not share our priorities and values]: may you treat all worldly neighbors lovingly and fairly, by doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with your Creator ~ Micah 6:8

The great news? You can continue this throughout the day as you see opportunity whether said aloud or thought silently [for those in traffic; cashiers; wait staff; when sirens (for EMTs, medical staff, law enforcement;) etc. ]

AND/OR

You can follow-up the practice above by sending a note along the lines of: “May you discover joy in unexpected places; feel the support, safety, love and strength being shared with you; and recognize the significant impact you have for me and so many in our world. May the peace that passeth all understanding come along with you on the journey ahead…“

The initial one-minute Loving-Kindness Meditation video from 2022 is HERE (https://youtu.be/il5aNyTc5DI )

OTHER LOVINGKINDNESS RESOURCES / REFERENCES

  • Psalm 103 shares wonderful prose, including reference to lovingkindness in verse 4
  • These references from the devotional Daily Strength for Daily Needs (published 1884) for September 21
    • How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. ~ Psalm 36:7
    • Within thy circling arms we lie, O God! In thy Infinity: our souls in quiet shall abide, be set with love on every side ~ Anonymous
    • “The everlasting arms.” I think of that whenever rest is sweet. How the whole earth and the strength of it, that is almightiness, is beneath every tired creature to give it rest; holding us, always! No thought of God is closer than that. No human tenderness of patience is greater than that which gathers in its arms a little child, and holds it, heedless of weariness. And He fills the great earth, and all upon it, with this unseen force of His love, that never forgets or exhausts itself, so that everywhere we may lie down in His bosom, and be comforted. ~ A.D.T. Whitney
  • This from the book Here All Along by Sarah Hurwitz (p.114): “Hesed” is often translated as “loving-kindness,” but it’s not just an emotion; it’s a kind of action we take to help those who are physically or emotionally in need.” Sarah goes on to say “…I have never once regretted doing an act of hesed – and I very much regret moments when I chose not to.” Reminds me of altruistic egoism…

HERE is a meditation that our good friend Helen H. led at the October 2023 Memory Cafe