Every day, I do a variation of Buddhist lovingkindness meditation. The blessing I use is:
May you be safe.
May you be strong.
May you live with joy.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
Traditional instructions are to say, think and imagine those blessings on yourself, someone you love, a neutral person, an enemy, and all beings.
My teacher encouraged me to picture the person being all those things as vividly as I could imagine it.
I bless myself, many people I love, those working on environmental justice, racial justice, health care providers, victims of violence, perpetrators of violence, and all beings.
This morning, I turned it into prayers of gratitude.
I am grateful for your safety.
I am thankful for your strength.
I celebrate your joyful moments.
I am grateful for whatever piece you feel..
Even though many of the people in my meditation are living with huge challenges, I felt surges of gratitude and joy for the positive parts of their lives.
It was a nice variation on a tender practice.
In your journal:
- write your own gratitude prayer or meditation
- who would you most like to bless?