Dear Friends,
Kindness! That’s a good thing to reflect on in the middle of the week of the middle of the month!
There are traditional meditation practices one can do to incline the mind towards kindness, sometimes called lovingkindness or metta. The Mindful magazine posted a brief discussion of the steps in the practice here:
https://www.mindful.org/the-mindful-practice-podcast-loving-kindness-with-sharon-salzberg/
Outside of a formal practice, you can practice lovingkindness anywhere. Sharon Salzberg posted a series of “Street Lovingkindness” videos, which I enjoyed. Here’s the first:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgjHM8ngWrM
In Search Inside Yourself, Chade-Meng Tan says people discover “being on the transmitting end of kindness is a calming an happy experience, often at least as good as being on the receiving end.” In Joy on Demand, he offers a quick informal practice:
During working hours or school hours, randomly identify two people who walk past you or who are standing or sitting around you. Secretly wish for them to be happy. Just think to yourself, “I wish for this person to be happy, and I wish for that person to be happy.” That is the entire practice. Don’t do anything; don’t say anything; just think. …
If you like, you may pretend you are firing a “happiness ray gun” at them and make “pew, pew” sound effects in your head. Batteries not required.
Let kindness be your practice today. And remember to aim that happiness ray gun at yourself too!
With best wishes,
Andrea