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Metta Blast ~ 1

May 02, 2007

ph_may_bleedingheart.jpg

Bleeding Hearts ~ Canon 30d

Okay, I sat down, shut up, opened up, soaked in, and listened. I think I'm ready to send some metta. Remember, metta is lovingkindness. Lovingkindness meditation is a way to give blessings ~ first to yourself, and then radiating out to include not only your favorite folks, but also to an annoying "idiot" or two. (Or three, if you happen to be in a smarmy, gooey, sticky, chocolately mood.)

Remember, this is a bit of a test on my part. I'm not used to testing spiritual things, studying them. But, WHY NOT? Scientists are sliding monks into MRI's left and right these days and their findings are remarkable. Meditating not only relaxes you, it makes you smarter. Parts of your brain that hardly ever light up jump to life. Like submerging a broken person into the waters of Lourdes, taking a good long "soak" in the reflecting pool of the soul can heal you.

Yes, I said heal you.

Maybe I'm not talking about a sudden jump-out-of-your-wheelchair I've been HEALED kind of experience ~ maybe I am. Maybe I'm talking about shedding a healing light into the nooks and crannies of your Thomas' Enlgish Muffin Soul so you can see yourself and your place in the world more authentically. As one Zen master has said, "Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on water." The quieter the mind is, the calmer and clearer the heavens will reflect upon its surface.

So, let's go. How to Send Metta

Use these words, or just hold yourself and others "in the light" ~
May you be safe. May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you live with ease.

1. Start with yourself. Bless youself, and not just for a couple of moments... for a good solid 4 or 5 minutes at least. Balance yourself first, and then move on to blessing other people.

2. Extend your circle out to include someone who's been good to you. A family member, a teacher, someone you've never met, but has had a positive impact on your life... a "benefactor". Spend the same amount of time with them as you did yourself.

3. Extend your circle to someone who needs help. In addition to someone you know I am asking you a big favor. Please include my friend, Joan, and her mother, Jo who is in the final stages of aggressive lung cancer. When I send the two of them metta, I ask for peace and strength, for the elimination of pain and suffering. May they be safe, may they be happy, may they be healthy in body and soul, may they live and die with ease. Your soul knows what's best, just immerse them both in the light of love and understanding, and mystery. I love them both dearly, and know they will so appreciate the kindness of your prayers, no matter what faith tradition your heart springs from.

4. Extend your circle to someone who you don't particularly like. You don't have to start with the worst of the worst ~ start small if you like. Sending love to someone you find unlovable will widen your heart in ways that are hard to understand... this practice will change you from the inside out. Trust me.

5. Finally, extend your circle as big as you possibly can to include all creatures everywhere. All things. All sentient beings... including you.

6. If you would like to submit a metta request for yourself or someone who is in need, please don't hesitate to include a comment here and we'll all include you in our collective metta, yes?


This is the way we BLAST the world with peace. This is our tiny, but extraordinarily powerful Peace Movement. Allowing your heart to bleed a little (like the bleeding hearts pictured above) for all things will change your world.

thank you!

Posted by vincent at May 2, 2007 04:46 PM

Comments

I'm going to do this...and thank you for the encouragement and direction. It's such a simple thing really!

Posted by: Kate I at May 2, 2007 08:15 PM

Thank you:) I love this. I'd like to request some metta...Robert continues to show developmental delays, and I am consumed with worry and grief. In truth, all I really do want for him is to be safe, healthy, happy and live with ease. And I don't want to constantly battle my own fears and brokenness. Sometimes it just seems very hard.

By the way, I prayed that beautiful prayer/poem you wrote about the labyrinth, along with a novena of "divine mercy" prayers for 10 days prior to the Sunday after Easter. It really spoke to me.

Peace out;)

Posted by: tam at May 3, 2007 01:33 AM

Thanks for the words. I'll definitely use them. And I like knowing I'm involved in a "tiny, but extraordinarily powerful Peace Movement." For Joan and her mom, you got it. Please add Abigayle. She's 11 and she's fighting cancer. Oh, and I agree about the healing - wholeheartedly.

Posted by: Candy at May 3, 2007 07:42 AM

Please also keep my friend Tim's stepmother in the light. She is still suffering from two forms of lymphoma ~ peace, susan

Posted by: susan at May 3, 2007 11:32 AM

A beautiful suggestion, one that I look forward to trying (and hopefully adopting regularly). In addition to the other request here, would you please include my father; he is in end-stage Alzheimer's and I would like these final days/weeks to be as easy as possible for him (and my family).

Thank you for your constant inspiration through your photographs and words, Susan.

Posted by: Star at May 3, 2007 04:14 PM

me too.. I love being a part of this, it feels really significant to me

Posted by: aola at May 3, 2007 04:15 PM

Way to go, Susan!! And thank you for mentioning my mom and all the metta headed her way!! I know it will make her last days easier!

Posted by: jzrart at May 3, 2007 07:18 PM

I did it about 9:00 this morning, which would have been 2:00 AM EST. Does this help in your experiment? Thanks, Susan for starting the chain of Metta.

BOb

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Posted by: Sten56739 at May 13, 2007 01:03 PM

So wonderful, simple and perfect! I'll join you - and all sentient beings - in this practice.

with love,
Bonnie

Posted by: Wandering Willow at May 14, 2007 12:24 PM