As some of you may know, Wayne S.’s meditation teacher, Tracy Cochran, is also an author who has published an excellent book entitled ‘Presence: The Art of Being at Home in Yourself’. We used an extract of her book in the post ‘How Meditation Can Move Us From Conscious Separation To Conscious Connection’.
Wayne passed along this short reflection from Tracy that she published for her meditation group that will be held later today.
I find this reflection useful as we consider the Step 12 challenge to ‘practice these principles in all all our affairs’. It may also be helpful as we consider what the Big Book outlines in the final page of the core text on page 164:
“Ask God in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got.”(BB p.164) – Bruce M.
April 2nd Reflection – Tracy Cochrane
What do you need to hear today? The practice of metta is above all an attitude of loving kindness towards yourself and others. The phrases can shift and flow just like the rest of life. Here is a metta for today:
May I love myself just as I am.
May I sense my worthiness.
May I hold myself in compassion.
May I meet the suffering of others with compassion.
More About Metta – Google AI
- Meaning and Translation: Metta, a Pali word, is often translated as “loving-kindness” or “benevolence”.
- Buddhist Context:It’s one of the four “immeasurables” or “Brahmaviharas” in Buddhism, alongside compassion (karuna), joy in others’ happiness (mudita), and equanimity (upekha).
- Cultivation:Metta is cultivated through meditation, where practitioners focus on generating feelings of warmth, care, and friendliness towards themselves and others, including those who are difficult or challenging.
- Practice:Metta meditation involves repeating phrases like “May I/you be happy, may I/you be well, may I/you be safe” while visualizing oneself and others.
- Benefits:Cultivating metta can lead to increased self-compassion, reduced stress, and a greater sense of connection and well-being for both the practitioner and those they extend metta to.
- Universal Love:Metta is a universal love that transcends social, religious, ethnic, political, and economic barriers, aiming to cultivate a heart open to all beings.
- Not the Same as Compassion:While related, metta is distinct from compassion (karuna). Metta is a wish for happiness and well-being, while compassion is a wish for the alleviation of suffering.