This week's universal loving-kindness exercise instructs us to say the following phrases for 10 minutes.
May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.
May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.
May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.
May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness.
I love these phrases and by saying them for 10 minutes on a daily basis one can open their mind and heart and rid themselves of anger and hate. It can help shift the focus from personal love to universal loving-kindness. I notice I am much more aware of how I treat people after this exercise. I am slow to speak and want to treat everyone with kindness.
Integral Assessment
Integral Assessment
The approach I used to complete integral assessment was to identify any urgent area of distress. I closed my eyes and asked myself, "What aspect of my life - psychospiritual, biological, interpersonal, or worldly - is the source of difficulty and suffering?" For me it is interpersonal so I focused on this area. "What line is most essential for me at this time?" The most essential line is personal. "What is my current level of development and what can I aim for?" This line has taken me a long time to develop and I'm still in the process as only time awareness and application can heal. This is the first aspect of the assessment that may be explored for a few days or weeks.
Once the area of distress has been identified focus can shift to the second aspect of the assessment: healing and promoting integral development. So I ask myself, "What area of my life is ready for growth and development?" Again, the line I am ready to develop is my personal line which is the same area that needs healing. "What would the next level look like?" The next level would look like loving and knowing myself, which would allow me to better love my family.
Positive thinking and belief in myself are the two specific exercises I can implement to help heal myself. Meditation is also very important to stop my busy mind and witness my own thoughts without judgement or reaction.
"You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection." ~Buddha
Hello Sara,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy reading your blog! As well as you I think that this was a great exercise and it did help me open my mind and my heart. Many people don't believe in repeating this and expect something to come out of it, but I do believe that if you say it every day then this will become a habit and will create a nice and loving behavior towards others.
Great Post!
Hi Rosita...
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading! I think there is something about repeating a phrase that is calming. The one I really like is, "Be still and know that I am God." I repeat this when I am feeling overwhelmed.