« Previous | Main | Next »

Drops of Kindness ~ for everyone

May 25, 2007

ph_may_pinkcrystal.jpg

Liquid Light ~ Canon 30d

Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the Earth; without rain there would be no life.
~ John Updike

Plink! A drop in the metta bucket goes to Pat, who fell down and went "boom" a couple
weeks ago.

Plink! A drop of care goes out to Bonnie's mother.

Plink! A drop of love goes out to Tom, who thinks I am "tainting" and "polluting" the Buddhist metta practice by presenting it as something which comes from the "Divine" that flows through us and can be "sent". Some Buddhists believe metta doesn't actually change things externally. They believe the interior practice of blessing others only affects the attitude of the one who is doing it.

Hmmm... he could be right, ya know.

When you change your interior, you change the way you engage with the world. It's a moot point really, whether you change the world by changing your interior, or change the world by actively seeking to bless it externally through the power of your intention, the end result is the same. Choose the metaphor.. (sorry, mettaphor) that works for you and then run with it! Stop wasting precious time on being "right" and snagging yourself on inconsequential details.

You heard me! Get GOING!

Plink! Another drop of kindness to Tom just for good measure. (Help me, people... see if he's right.. send Tom some metta. Help him prove to us nothing will happen.) *grin*

Plink! To all the Buddhists out there who agree with Tom ~ may you be safe, happy, healthy, live with ease, and may our blessings knock you right off of your cushions. (in a good way)

Plink! To all the faithful who might think practicing Metta is some sort of heresy because it springs from Buddhism. May your definition of prayer be widened, along with the boundaries to your spiritual freedom.

Plink! To Cara who's transforming the dark spots into the light.

Plink! To Eden!

Plink! To Joan!

Plink! To Kat!

Plink! To Laura!

Plink! To Jose!

Plink! To "Boats" Bob!

Plink! Plink! Plink! ~ Maria, Luisa, Dave, Tim, Jim, TvTom and Moi, who were sitting around the table debating the value of what I'm doing up here last night ~ Plink! Plink! Plink! (I luvs you guys)

Plink! To Hazel. From paws to ears, may your meow's all be happy ones.

Plink! To my teachers Tara and Hugh ~ safe, happy, wise, warm, giving. Where would we be without your commitment and generosity?

Plink! If I left you out, let me include you ~ Plink! A drop in the bucket for all beings.

Holy cow, with all these drops, I think I detect a wave forming.

Posted by vincent at May 25, 2007 02:44 PM

Comments

I think your last line is where it all coalesces for me, Susan. I guess I don't really care if it's supposed to be an internal thing or if it's supposed to be a Buddhist thing. If it draws people together to prop one another up in a spiritual way, I'm all for it. And you are so right; the changes we make within can't help but be reflected in our day-to-day actions, even our countenance. Bring on the metta wave--it will lift us up, wash over us to refresh us, and carry us up onto the shores of a better life. Right?

Posted by: Star at May 24, 2007 03:56 PM

Plink! Here's to Susan!!!

Posted by: jzrart at May 25, 2007 11:36 AM

Pink! Here's to Susan.
Pink! Here's to all who understand her point of view.
Pink! To those who don't get it.
Pink! To being, loving, caring and doing no matter what the rules or the basic religion.
Pink! To peace for us all.

Posted by: janet at May 25, 2007 11:47 AM

Personally, I am loving the metta wave, drop by drop, over here in the Bible Belt - Texas. I have become consumed by the reality that being right is a massive waste of precious time. I'm trying to live by the quote, "do you want to be right or have relationship?" If my practicing metta plinking will get me closer to not having to be right, I'm all over it.

Plink to you Susan for broadening our horizons. Keep dripping!

Posted by: candy at May 26, 2007 08:31 AM

I guess there is some desire to send 'METTA-physical' energy of some sorts for self gratification. Look deeply into it. I know that I'm happier for my practice and that affects someone else. Buddhism seems mostly about observing things as they are without judgment. As for me, I have a somewhat different path and I'm just observing with out judgment. I don't really see any rock solid dogmas in Buddhism. Dogmas are contrary to Buddhist practices. In essense, Buddhism should continually be in a flux of change.

That's just me though. I love you all for being part of the exchange. It's life as it is. :)

Thanks again Susan for this.

Posted by: Bob at May 28, 2007 05:31 AM

Bob,

You're missing a big point here. We're not intending to send lovingkindness out of a desire for self-gratification.. it's the total opposite. This is an unselfish, generous act of sending energy to someone. If anyone thinks differently, then either I've done a bad job of explaining this, or you're jumping to a conclusion that shouldn't be jumped to.
Personally, I think Tom's eruption and angst toward our intention says quite a bit about his lack of security about what he believes. Knee jerk reactions aren't exactly "buddhist". :) But that's a whole other blog entry. You're right.. being with change and practicing non-attachment is a huge part of the buddhist practice, but Buddha himself said if we are to grasp only ONE of his teachings, the most important would be ALTRUISM. Giving, generosity, metta practice.. both on and off the cushion. If we succeed at this one thing, all the other teahcings, Buddha said, would be in the palm of our hands.

It's why Lama Surya Das encourages us to get off our meditaiton cushions and into the world, which is in a state of crisis.

love ya, Boats,
Susan

Posted by: susan at May 28, 2007 07:58 AM

..after such gentle rain a rainbow is overhead.

Posted by: tongue in cheek at May 28, 2007 05:05 PM