Dear Friends,
This past week, I’ve been focusing on mindfulness of the body, so I thought for this “Heart Sunday”, I would look for a meditation that combined metta and the body. There are quite a few choices!
I ultimately chose this guided meditation from Catherine McGee, called “Guided Metta Practice – easy person, self and body” (~45 minutes): https://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/41/talk/18010/
It includes a section on metta for oneself, has a section on metta for the body, but has an interesting twist when it opens with metta for an “easy” being.
Jeanne and Doris have led us through metta practices that start with a benefactor or kind figure, so starting with an easy being is not that much different, but what I especially loved about Catherine’s idea of the easy being is it can include something like a teddy bear! So I brought out an old friend for today:
(It’s cold out. He needs his scarf!)
I could feel my heart soften with appreciation for the many years we’ve shared. This little bear has been with me from the beginning, as has this body of mine. Bringing kindness to the bear made it easier to bring kindness to the body too.
Whether you decide to listen to Catherine’s meditation or do another metta practice, I invite you to think about an “easy being”, and perhaps that easy being might help you bring more kindness to your body today.
With best wishes,
Andrea G