This exercise was a little difficult for me because I believe I am self centered. I know it is difficult to admit but in the beginning you first allow the loving feelings to expand within your heart. I found my posture improving as I tried to perform a chest expansion (similar to Yoga) but the challenge is giving love, kindness, sense of ease, spaciousness and care. I tried to lose grasping and attachment and let them be and to be at peace with my body and sensations. Those are difficult principles. The inner mind must be still, at peace and gentle. I must fully embrace myself for the unique and precious expression of life that I am. Also a tenet of this practice is to love myself as a prelude to extending this love to others. This is very difficult to achieve because one must accept themselves.
It is hard to take in loved one's suffering (negative) although it does dissolve in the heart and the exhalation allows me to give health and joy (positive).
This exercise will be a difficult practice but the rewards of taking the time to practice these concepts are well worth the effort. My goal is to acheive a natural aura of loving-kindness and get to that higher level so it becomes second nature.
I too find this difficult but only because I am not fully aware of how this is done or the meaning of "letting go" or "spaciousness". By just doing and not expecting to know all the answers I feel that the purpose of this exercise is being executed. By just believing that what I receive from this experience and where I am at this moment is OK. Take the positive and don't look at what you could have done, or why don't I get it. Been there too many times. I wasted many moments with analyzing myself with judgements. Except what is today and continue to move forward.
ReplyDeleteHi Rose!
ReplyDeleteI know it can be difficult at times to just relax and feel at peace with ourselves.I'm sure you did great bringing loving kindness into your life. Keep practicing and it will be fine. Here are benefits to having loving kindness in your life: Monks, when the liberation of mind through loving-kindness is practiced, developed, resorted to, used as one's vehicle, made one's foundation, steadied, consolidated, and perfected, eleven benefits can be expected. Which eleven?
One sleeps happily.
One wakes happily.
One has no bad dreams.
One is loved by others.
One is loved by non-humans.
One is guarded by devas.
Fire, poison, or sword won't touch one.
One's mind becomes concentrated quickly.
One's complexion becomes clear.
One dies with a mind free from confusion.
Anguttara Nikaya XI.16, The Buddha
Well the most difficult part for me is to love myself. I know that I am smart and I know that I am capable of doing a lot. But to love me as I do my children or my spouse is a hard leasson to learn. I do however find it to be interesting to learn to work our minds as we do our physical physique. It is so amazing how powerful our minds really are and that we can work them out to shape who we are...
ReplyDeleteI am like you Rose...I love myself, a lot. Sometimes I let that get the best of me too and I have to tell myself to tone it down a notch. But I also know that I love others a lot, especially those I call my friends and of course my family. I think that for one to truly love thyself, you have to accept you for who you are, in entirety. Sure, flaws always seem to be somewhat highlighted, especially when you are looking at your own flaws, but the acceptance and approval in your own mind sets the stage for that loving kindness. Interesting exercise...
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