Lovingkindness is a perspective, a place from which we can relate to all of life. A pilot study article pdf available in journal of traumatic stress 264 august 20. In this excerpt from sharon salzbergs the kindness handbook, she teaches us that by repeatedly practicing kindness and generosity with others and ourselves, that is who we become and what begins to feel most natural. Some buddhist teachers prefer loving kindness as they find the word love too dangerous. Lovingkindness, for example, is defined as an individuals ability to altruistically connect and care for others by wishing. Take these to be signs that your heart is softening, revealing what is held there. Lovingkindness worksheet spiritspring what is lovingkindness. It is so easy for us to dwell on all of the regrettable things we have done or said the times when we now feel we. We have been using the word love to mean appetite or desire, as in i love hamburgers. Loving kindness and compassion meditation in psychotherapy. Lovingkindness as a meditation practice retrains the mind to overcome all forms of negativity. Return to the phrases or image, letting them become your anchor. Research suggests that when people practice lovingkindness meditation regularly, they start automatically reacting more positively to othersand their social interactions and close.
Learn how to practice lovingkindness meditation by sharon. Noa loving kindness theres a common misunderstanding among all the human beings. Just as compassion is the wish that all sentient beings be free of suffering, lovingkindness is the wish that all may enjoy happiness. Ga in een comfortabele houding zitten, met een rechte rug. The practice of lovingkindness alone will give effect in some measure to all the members except the first. We share a portion of the guided meditation by sharon salzberg here with you with our wish that you and your children are well and live with ease. We visualize together who we are directing the metta towards, and at first i say something may you be happy and the kids repeat it after me. Im very happy to be reading this book in preparation to be sending it to gwen.
Lovingkindness definition and meaning collins english. Lovingkindness is a natural opening of a compassionate heartto ourselves and to others. Throughout our lives we long to love ourselves more deeply and find a greater sense of connection with others. As with compassion, when cultivating lovingkindness it is important to start by taking a specific individual as a focus of our meditation, and we then extend the scope of our concern further and further, to eventually encompass and embrace all sentient. Guided lovingkindness meditation from sharon salzberg by. Sharon salzberg is a meditation teacher and the cofounder of the insight meditation society in barre, massachusetts. Lovingkindness meditation for posttraumatic stress disorder. Sometimes during lovingkindness meditation, seemingly opposite feelings such as anger, grief, or sadness may arise. When you truly stand in lovingkindness and look out upon the world, what you see is all that is. The revolutionary art of happiness shambhala classics. Lovingkindness practice is designed to help all participants to experience, share, and grow in lovingkindness. Lovingkindness is defined in english dictionaries as a feeling of benevolent affection, but in buddhism, lovingkindness in pali, metta.
This article concerns some central aspects of methodology in qualitative research. Can any one definition give you a sense of the fullness of this word. New age journal reading salzbergs book produces the sense of having been gifted abundantly. The lovingkindness practice that we teach in mbct with moms who have a history of depression has been a touchstone for many during hard times. The buddhist loving kindness meditation script metta meditation script is a prayer or simply words that we use for developing kindness and compassion. Loving kindnessembracing ourselves and all beings with a full and tender loving presence. Metta meditation can be particularly useful in social anxiety and depression. Participants learn a simple loving kindness walking meditation in the buddhist tradition. The concentric circles of connection and lovingkindness. Metta bhavana cultivation of lovingkindness the good symbol for metta lovingkindness is the mother cradling her baby to sleep. Lovingkindness meditation practice greater good in action. Lovingkindness in buddhism is neither emotional or selfish. It brings about positive attitudinal changes by systematically developing the quality of lovingacceptance. There is also a lot of joy when one is unselfishly caring for a friend.
The revolutionary art of happiness, real happiness. Heres my report from this firstofits kind course offered by the university of minnesota last month, a. More recently, research has started to explore lovingkindness meditation lkm, a traditionally buddhist meditation which is commonly practised. This cultivation of lovingkindness is an essential part of buddhism. Lovingkindness by pema chodron noaimiloa livejournal. Hesedis indeed one of the key words controlling the text. Looking deeply, we can see the other person as our mother, father, or ourself. Lovingkindness meditation is a simple repetition of these phrases, but directing them at different people.
Loving kindness meditation lkm is a popular selfcare technique that can be used to boost wellbeing and reduce stress. Our fear of intimacyboth with others and with ourselvescreates feelings of pain and longing. Lovingkindness practice for teachers center for healthy. Relaxing yoga music jungle song morning relax meditation, indian flute music for yoga, healing duration. A meditation on lovingkindness this meditation uses words, images, and feelings to evoke a lovingkindness and friendliness toward oneself and others. To teach how great is the reward of those who do deeds of kindness midrash ruth rabbah 2. When we are hurting or angry, lovingkindness can be especially challenging. Maitri can be translated as love or loving kindness. These steps are for practicing lovingkindness for yourself. Lovingkindness is a form of love that truly is an ability, and, as research scientists have shown, it can be learned. Sharon salzbergs book illuminates the heart of lovingkindness like a lamp in the darkness, like the clearing of fog, like a sunrise on a beautiful morningit brings light so that all those with eyes may see.
See if you can carry an attitude of lovingkindness into your next activity. So too is the sense of the hebrew word from which we have the translation lovingkindness. Those who regularly practice loving kindness meditation are able to increase their capacity for forgiveness, connection to others, selfacceptance, and more. Salzberg exposes the warm beating heart at the center of buddhism. Lovingkindness meditation increases happiness in part by making people feel more connected to othersto loved ones, acquaintances, and even strangers. Lovingkindness meditation is a practice that can help dissolve the rigid labels of us vs. It is the ability to take some risks with our awarenessto look at ourselves and others with kindness instead of reflexive criticism. Perhaps youre at work and can get away for a break you can even do this on a bathroom break, believe me, ive done just that. Lovingkindness also does not leave us impervious to hurtful messages, though it can lessen their impact. The revolutionary art of happiness shambhala classics kindle edition by salzberg, sharon, jon kabatzinn. How loving kindness and compassion meditation can enhance. Sylvia boorstein, turning wheel sharon salzbergs book illuminates the heart of lovingkindness like a lamp in the darkness, like the clearing of the fog, like a sunrise on a beautiful morningit brings light so that all those. You can either shift to mindfulness practice or you canwith whatever patience, acceptance, and kindness you can muster for such feelings.
You can also practice metta for others in different categories, such as people close to you, friends, people you are neutral toward, people you find difficult, and ultimately all living beings. It is one of the most important buddhist meditations for beginners the technical, buddhist name for this meditation technique is metta bhavana, metta meaning compassion and bhavana meaning. The hatred and anger we have towards the other person prevent us from being happy or peaceful. The power of meditation, and real happiness at work. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading lovingkindness. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Users who like guided lovingkindness meditation from sharon salzberg. Explain that meditation is a way of focusing thoughts to achieve calm and has been a spiritual practice in many religions for thousands of years. This is by far the best teaching ive ever read about the nature of lovingkindness.
I can still remember that it was a good feeling when i was cradled to sleep by my mother. Its a nonaffiliated, open community of people coming together to practice lovingkindness as a skill, and to offer it to one another and to the world. Lovingkindness meditation lovingkindness meditation is a meditative practice used to cultivate feelings of compassion and lovingkindness. Whatever else is going on in your life will wait for. The science of lovingkindness meditation dereks dharma. With each recitation of the phrases, we are expressing an intention, planting the seeds of loving wishes over and over in our heart.
When you are ready, take a deep breath, stretch, and open your eyes if they have been closed. Pdf lovingkindness meditation for posttraumatic stress. It is lovingkindness that radiates through the purified mind after eradicating hatred, jealousy, cruelty, enmity and grudges. Jack kornfield, author of after the ecstasy, the laundry reading salzbergs book produces the sense of having been gifted abundantly. Loving kindness meditation script, howto, benefits 2020.