The short and to the point purpose of this post is that when we sit down to meditate, and especially if we don’t sit down to meditate because our job is too stressful, the house is too cluttered, or because we’re too tired, it behooves us to reflect on the fact that meditation can actually help us to be and to become more compassionate, not only with others but with ourselves.
When we say “meditation” and we discuss it as a way to become less distracted, what we may forget is that when we are less distracted, there’s more “space” within our attention and mind to do all of the things that we believe are preventing us from meditating, as well as to provide better attention and service to those around us.
So, here’s the tiny reminder for today; remember to practice for your: kids, spouse, partner, parents, peers, boss, employees, those who you meet on the street, those who you avoid on the street, your dog, your cat, or your pet-rock! Meditate for the benefit of others and even forget about yourself; it may make the whole process a lot easier…who knows?!
For ideas on how to meditate in everyday life, to make it easier to integrate your meditation practice into all you do, check out this link. Also, there have previous posts on this blog about the scientific research into meditation and compassion, as well as some ways to work with our minds.
What's your experience? Please feel free to leave a comment and share your insights and thoughts.
Comments
I think I still haev a looong way to go :-)
It is difficult for me this thing about the relation with others. Usually I need to face kind of non sense situations. Or situations that may harm me , too.
On one hand, there are habitual ways of going about , sometimes a kind of weakness, or a kind of overwhelming, or reactions, different kinds of confussion. I feel I want to do the right thing, but there is limitation there, so to say. Also , I care about others, but I need to " survive" myself too.
Sometimes it is not only the normal interactions with others, but there can be intense demands. The crazyness of Samsara .
I find that when I can collect myself into a more present state, I come closer to a " discriminative awareness " state, where I can judge better how to go about others , and the unending happenings of life.
Being a little more free of my own personality, so to say, I can see more objectively.
Before I worried more about being " hard " , etc. , but now I am seeing better that somehow I need to go beyond the clouds in order to be able to help better.
How could I really go ahead with this healthy humor and discrimination about.....?
best wishes,
E.
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