joscmt - 2006-12-30 10:36 PM

It takes me out of myself and helps to remind me that the universe does not, in fact, revolve around me.

Ravi - 2006-12-30 6:45 PM

Om Namah Sivaya
Cyndi,

Very well put...... I also have been somewhat disturbed about the recent events. To me personally what better way to handle a brutal ruthless dicator than to give him the one thing he was unable to give his whole life. " Compassion"
I am not saying he does not belong behind bars or in some forced work camp the rest of his life......... wouldn't that have thrown everybody in the desert for a loop. But violence begets more violence..

Anyhow to perk things up a bit..... here is a transcript I have been using at the end of my classes during final relaxation the last couple weeks.... I feel that now more than ever it is needed.. I have gotton some pretty profound and positive feedbacks at the end class. I hope you like it.

Loving Kindness Meditation Transcript:

Take a few deep breaths, relax your body. Feel your energy settle into your body and into the moment.

See if certain phrases emerge from your heart that express what you wish most deeply for yourself, not just for today, but in an enduring way. Phrases that are big enough and general enough that you can ultimately wish them for all of life, for all beings everywhere.

Classical phrases are things like, "May I live in safety. May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I live with ease."

You can gently repeat these phrases over and over again, have your mind rest in the phrases and whenever you find your attention has wandered, don't worry about it. When you recognize you've lost touch with the moment, see if you can gently let go and begin again.

May I live in safety, May I be happy, May I be healthy, May I live with ease.

Call to mind somebody that you care about--a good friend, or someone who's helped you in your life, someone who inspires you. You can visualize them, say their name to yourself. Get a feeling for their presence, and then direct the phrases of lovingkindness to them. May you live in safety, May you be happy, May you be healthy, May you live with ease.

Call to mind someone you know who's having a difficult time right now. They've experienced a loss, painful feeling, a difficult situation. If somebody like that comes to mind, bring them here.
Imagine them sitting in front of you. Say their name. Get a feeling for their presence and offer the phrases of lovingkindness to them.

"May you live in safety. May you be happy. May you be healthy, May you live with ease."
Think of someone who plays some role in your life, some function that you don't know very well, that you don't have a particular feeling for, or against. Maybe the checkout person at the supermarket where you shop, the gas-station attendant, somebody that you see periodically. If someone like that comes to mind, imagine them sitting in front of you, and offer these same phrases of lovingkindness to them.
May you live in safety. May you be happy. May you be be healthy, May you live with ease.

We connect into these phrases, aiming the heart in this way, we're opening ourselves to the possibility of including, rather than excluding, of connecting, rather than overlooking, of caring, rather than being indifferent. And ultimately, we open in this way to all beings everywhere, without distinction, without separation.

May all beings live in safety, May all beings be happy, May all beings be healthy, live with ease.

All people, all animals, all creatures, all those in existence, near and far, known to us and unknown to us. All beings on the earth, in the air, in the water. Those being born, those dying.

May all beings everywhere live in safety, may all beings everywhere be happy, may all beings everywhere be healthy, may all beings everywhere live with ease.

You feel the energy of this aspiration extending infinitely in front of you, to either side, behind you, above and below. As the heart extends in a boundless way, leaving no one out, may all beings live in safety, be happy, be healthy, live with ease.
And when you feel ready, you can open your eyes and see if you can bring this energy with you throughout the day.


May the New Year bring you Joy, Peace and Happiness

Om Shanti,
Ravi