2013.01.26 _ 11

To druth: The idea of the meditations such as karuna-metta is to develop compassion. Compassion is more than sympathy or empathy. It's not a sentimental feeling. It is a motivating force. It spurs to action.

Once one has really realized and felt that people suffer, one's friends, enemies and strangers alike, one asks, "What can I do to help?" Perhaps one is inspired to change one's attitude and behavior. One can, for example, stop distinguishing between those different divisions between people and see them as equally important and worthy of kindness and of sympathetic joy.

And almost as a side effect, developing compassion in this way brings a deep and lasting personal happiness. A paradox? No. :)

An effective way, traditionally, of doing all this has been to visualize suffering. Very often this is how compassion is engendered and how the world is changed. But if you can think of something else that brings those effects in a different way, do please share and help us with it. I will gladly learn. :)

I have found:
* Loving kindness - the wish that all be well - seems founded on compassion.
* Sympathetic joy - delight in the virtues, accomplishments and happiness of others - also seems founded on compassion.
* Equanimity - that clear tranquil poise - seems founded on loving kindness, sympathetic joy, and compassion together.
It all seems to start with compassion. For me. But your mileage may vary! :)

Today's Gratitude
A new day with no mistakes in it :)

::: On the full moon day
::: The sheer pleasure of friendship
::: Sparkling sweet good laughs

Meditated in the evening. Physically not very enjoyable - my muscles ached. Plenty of opportunity to practice cutting through stories.

the Moon rested in her throat, without obscuration.

Metta : Did a "practical metta class" with Liz today - discussed a specific situation - and how to deal with it in a compassionate and kind way - as it was happening.

Quiet time with trees : No quiet time today hmm need to work on this more.

South Africa - a moment of ponder, thanks and musings : Continuing with my little "Rodriguez fest" - and exploring how he influenced the Afrikaner youth of the day - I discovered the Voelvry movement - a group of Afrikaans musicians that became an important source for all those that dared question apartheid in those days and wanted to be part of a new colorful Rainbow nation that is now South Africa.

To Storm and Druth : I loved to read your thoughts on metta :) I find metta an amazing practise - and love to see how it deepens as I refocus on it daily.

did silent meditation today, lasted 15 minutes then another five, not much except that my back was sore most of the time,
did a ten minute guided meditation earlier, which was interesting

storm, I have all kinds of comments and questions, but it might be better if we talk it out somewhere else, especially as I haven't practiced it enough to have a true opinion of it

Missed yesterday. Had a very happy "Happy Hour" with friends after work and not in a meditative state.

Tonight....Stood for 6 minute meditation... more than once I have done my meditation in a loud environment and found it strangely relaxing, tonight tv was blaring in the other room... I can drift so far away from it feeling deeply separate from it and deeply engaged with my meditation...

This followed by a short Chi Gong and a not so slow Tai CHi exercise. It was cold in the house tonight and my knee was popping a bit. My Chi Gong was knee and stretched focused

Thank you Aph for the great picture of Villa Rotonda, always inspiring! edited 03:23, 27 Jan 2013

At the memorial for my friend, the climbing accident, while hearing about and feeling his loss, I became aware of a recurring image of the past few days: of an empty tooth socket, or sulcus, and it became clearer today that this image might be referring to how deeply rooted my friend had become for/in me; and how we may become rooted in one another without noticing it until we experience the deep an unexpected loss.
In a strange way this image seemed comforting and communicative to me and others close by. Grateful for such.

(((Maxine)))

Missed a day. Ah well, stand up and dust myself off and get back in the saddle (as John Wayne said).

sorry for your loss, Maxine
~
The Body Has A Mind of Its Own (blakeslee + blakeslee)
~
dan savage in the georgia straight