Meditation Monday, A Bit Late ...
Meditation Monday (on Wednesday)
Each morning I receive an inspirational message in me inbox from Tricycle, a Buddhist magazine. I love to read this first thing as it helps me stay focused and mindful as a busy day begins.
This exercise in compassion arrived this week. I found it to be a beautiful invitation to meditation, so much so that I wanted to share it with you here. I hope you will take the time to actually do it. It is powerful!
And, as you well know, compassion is what we need now more than ever. Compassion for ourselves, for others, for all beings on the planet.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be well.
May all beings be safe.
May all beings be peaceful and at ease.*Gates of Compassion
As you walk from room to room in your own home, try to really experience the transition from one place to another. Notice the difference between motion and stillness. Sense how you relate to various enclosures and open spaces. Feel the differences between entering and leaving, if there are differences. Contemplate the thoughts that become caught between places, in the doorways themselves, and think of the people who have walked these paths before you. While you’re thinking of others, the doors of your household begin to become the gates of compassion.
~ Gary Thorp, from “Crossing the Threshold,” Tricycle, Summer 2002
As always, I am curious what your heart has to say ...
*The Metta Prayer (Lovingkindness prayer) of Buddhist teaching. Learn more here.
Image courtesy of cooperrobinsoninteriors.com
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20 comments:
Hi Jan - we'll always be here .. and you had your ladies' conference - good I hope.
Gates of Compassion - regrettably it needs a sort .. of lots of papers and information, letters etc from 2 other peoples' lives - I feel it! I am working towards my gateway to freedom of space ..
I do my best to give compassion and assistance as I can, but need to replenish and a clean paper free home would help.
Thanks Jan I must look at Tricycle -
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
I love the metta prayer...it is very powerful. I think I may want to receive inspiring emails from Tricycle...such a wonderful way to begin each day. Thank you for this post today...I will take note of the rooms in my home. Maybe it's time I take out my sage and bless them as well :)
Jan,
Gary Thorp's thoughts on Gates of Compassion are new to me and quite intersting.
I intend to try what he suggests, particularly the part about contemplating the thoughts that become caught between places, such as the doorways.
Hi Jan - I just clicked over from the Bold Life. It's my first visit here. What a lovely site you have. I appreciate this idea of being present and noticing the movement from room to room, the subtle shifts of those in-between places. Thank you.
That's a lovely meditation, and I'm a big fan of Tricycle. That's where I used to get my doses of Sharon Salzberg articles on metta, and my gosh, they were deeply moving.
Happy Thursday, Jan!
"Contemplate the thoughts that become caught between places, in the doorways themselves, and think of the people who have walked these paths before you. While you’re thinking of others, the doors of your household begin to become the gates of compassion."
Jan this part especially touch me...spaces between...space and also connection, both are vital to well being, and of course investigating what is there? what is not there? always aware with curiosity and compassion for what we do or do not discover. Thank you for this lovely meditation offering.
such gentle steps we all must take now,
Laura
Hello Jan
Just wanted to comment on your blog. Was referred here to check it out and found it to be very inspiring. I like your Doctor friend writing as well (from your other site, I think).
Thanks, I'll be following.
Being mindful of our surroundngs is a wonderful way to stay in the present where we belong.
All these reminders help and keep us pulling to what is right in front of us, away from the past and the future.
Thank you, Jan.
The practice of becoming aware of what a home's spaces has to offer has been so important to my transition to a new home, while my daughter lives in the home she first knew....So many memories to sort through. Compassion has been the key - for myself and all that has gone before. Going through the process has helped me get to where I am today, which will lead me to what comes next. That special blessing has become a mainstay in my life.
i love that compassion poem -- my yoga teacher used to recite it to us at the end of each class.
thank you!
I love the metaphors of corners, doors, walls, and what arises in the space between and perhaps even in the solid spaces themselves.
You offer so many ways to be with ourselves, and I celebrate your compassion in reaching out to each one of us.
I am learning so much about acceptance, and compassion cannot flow until the dam of resistance is removed.
Hi Jan! This was fun. It made me appreciate how important it is that we are one with our space. It made me realize that the areas in my house that are small agravations represent areas of myself that are agravating me, and I need to take care of those things right away. It also made me aware of all the joys around me--mostly little personality markers from the two kiddos who live here with me. Thank you!
it is amazing the way rooms create their own moods... and noticing the doorways into and out of them... in some ways the door in and the door out feels so very different, even if it is physically the same... it feels wonderful to just notice...
ahh, an image of an internal doorway
leading up some stairs to a place of nourishment, conversation and gathering
homes truly do have their own vibe, aura, and atmosphere
a fortress - a place to barricade oneself away from the world
or
a castle - a place to put out the royal welcome mat for guests
home can at times be both
Oh, so many wise and wonderful comments here. I've been traveling, just home, and will settle into answering/blogging again. :-)
Hilary,
It is true that a clean and clear space contributes to our total well-being. Perhaps you can think of this process of clearing as an act of hospitality and welcome to your self. This next week I am dedicating my self to personal hospitality in this way, preparing for a large family gathering for (American) Thanksgiving. It is the best way I know how to be good to me...to take my time...no pressure...and create a beautiful space for myself. A side benefit is that others will enjoy it too!
Caroline,
I find that I need to clear my space (home) about once a week. I use a certain type of incense (created by Paramahansa Yogananda--a Sandlewood blend for meditation), open the doors and window. Let out the old, in with the new. It helps!
Cheryl,
Yes, isn't this wonderful? I, too, am finding this noticing process helpful. Like you, I embrace home as a metaphor for self. Also room, as my inner rooms. I often have dreams about houses and rooms and, as I understand it, Jung declared that these kinds of dreams were representational of our inner life. :-)
Patty,
Welcome from Tess' site! Nice to meet you. I am glad that this reflection gave you pause....Today (as I am just home from travel) I will be doing this, moving from room to room and taking time to notice what surfaces in me...
Megan,
It IS a wonderful wealth of resources, isn't it? Always dependable--even in an impermanent world. (wink)
Laura,
I appreciate how you are ever-noticing the movement and flow. What is here, what is not? It speaks to your contemplative heart. :-) May you find joy in these spaces.
Doc,
Welcome and thanks for visiting. (Checked out your site too, loved it!) I will be back to visit yours and comment soon. I'll appreciate your thoughts here, as well.
Wilma,
I find this to be true, too, and redirecting our attention back to the body, to the physical--home, nature, whatever. Whatever, as you say, brings us back to this precious moment.
Sharon,
Wise words here. Our homes are so important to our well-being and sense of self. So glad to hear the voice of compassion coming from you and settling into a deeper place within you. Blessings!
Susan,
So nice to learn that others are sharing this prayer/practice in soulful ways. :-)
Mermaid,
I agree. I think interior spaces offer much for us to reflect on. They are truly mirrors of our inner life. Compassion flows through your words. My heart is happy to hear them. :-)
Jodi,
Your noticings are lovely. Isn't it grand when a new "doorway" to our inner life is opened for us? Happy searching...
Joanne,
So true. I had not thought too much about how a door could be perceived from both sides though. Very interesting...Will ponder. Receptivity, containment. Invitation, safety. Hmmmm....
Kel,
Love the various notions of home you share. Perhaps we should look more deeply at these...I know that I refer to mine as a nest. A safe, cozy, place to be. One of comfort on all levels--body, mind, and spirit. Yours?
practicing metta is VERY powerful and very life changing if you stick with it long enough. It is a gradual thing but man, when it hits you that your view is different. . . you just want to reach around and hug yourself!
Peace~
Dawn
Mediation Monday comes everyday! (smiles) Synchronicity again. We went out with dear friends of ours on Friday night and we had a short prayer before dinner and this was part of it. He is a practicing Buddhist . We so enjoy their company and conversations from the heart. I was thinking then how his prayer would make a good focus for a meditation. Then I come here (not just a day but a week late) and synchronicity, you are saying what was in my thoughts. Thank you for sharing the Tricycle daily message. I will look into it, as you said, what a wonderful way to start your day. As always, an inspirational post and a Metta Prayer to use in my meditations. Blessings to you and yours. Love and Light, Nina P
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