28-Day Meditation Challenge ~ Day 25
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Some days when I’m practicing metta, I feel expansive and radiant. I’m wishing well to friends and family, all my neighbors and co-workers, The Neutrals, the people who annoy me, the people on the other side of the aisle and the other side of the world. I’m all
May all beings everywhere be safe and well.
May all beings everywhere be happy and content.
May all beings everywhere be healthy and strong.
May all beings everywhere be peaceful and at ease.
Other days, I never get past me.
My heart might feel heavy or my head might be full of criticism. I might be cut low by an intense sadness or just nibbled to pieces by countless irritations. It might make perfect sense that I’m feeling down or it might make no sense at all.
On those days, I just give metta to me.
May I be safe and well.
May I be happy and content.
May I be healthy and strong.
May I be peaceful and at ease.
The first time I encountered metta meditation was at a silent retreat with Sharon and Sylvia Boorstein in 2008. The entire first day of the retreat, we only gave metta to ourselves. Not to benefactors or family or friends who were hurting or difficult people. Only to ourselves.
After a day of sitting and walking and sitting again ~ all the while giving loving kindness to myself ~ it was extraordinary how filled up and loved I felt. Just from wishing myself well.
So when I’m having one of those days ~ for whatever reason ~ I just give metta to me. On days like that, it’s the best I can do for all beings everywhere.
