Meditation - boundless love and compassion (friends and affectionate acquaintances)

Daily meditations and practice 4 (‘Friends’)

Two meditation sessions of 10 minutes each, practiced as mentioned below:

– Turn off your phone or alternatively put it somewhere (or put it into a mode) that will not disturb or distract you for the duration of the meditation session.
– Sit in 7 Points of Vairocana meditation posture (alternatively sitting comfortably with your back as straight as possible)
– be aware of your state of mind before you start and take this into account when you are doing your meditations. For example, if you are very tired it might be very difficult for you to concentrate, be drowsy without awareness and easily fall asleep, adjust for this. Alternatively, you have just had an argument with somebody and your mind is racing or is very busy and this too will affect your meditation

1)Recite the aspiration prayer of the four boundless qualities.

May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.
May they be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
May they never be separated from the great happiness which is devoid of suffering.
May they forever remain in boundless equanimity, free from both attachment and aversion.

2) Three minutes of being present with awareness (open awareness)

3) contemplation for 5 minutes :

Bring to mind those with whom you have a positive relationship with. These may be friends, family, relatives, people at work or in your community or just a general group of people for instance your city, country or even around the world …. and sincerely wish for them to be happy and free from suffering.

During this meditation, at your own tempo, recite the lines “may all beings have happiness and all the causes of happiness, may all beings be free from suffering and all the causes of suffering”.

4) Two minutes of being present with awareness (open awareness)

5) conclude with the dedication prayer

By this merit may all attain omniscience.
Having defeated the enemies of wrongdoing.
In the turbulent waves of birth, old age, sickness and death; May all beings be liberated from the ocean of samsara!

Post meditation practices

1) Be aware of the wish of beings to be happy and not to experience pain, unhappiness or suffering while going about one’s daily activities and whomever you might meet, contact or message, or if you join a gathering or use any public transport or a restaurant wish that they all may be happy and free from any pain, unhappiness or suffering.

2) In the morning and in the evening bring to mind at least:-

a) four things that you have to be grateful for. It may be for the people who support you in your life, it could be for your help, just simply for the oxygen which allows us to breathe or the water we have to be able to drink.

b) three ways in which your life is interdependent with others.

3) Anytime negative emotions arise observe what happens to you physically, your speech and mentally.

4) Do your best to be aware in which situations your negative emotions tend to arise.

Note: if anyone is unsure about how to go about the practices, or how to meditate in the present with awareness, please don’t be shy and feel free to contact me.

This chapter is part of: Introduction Course - Part 2: Bodhichitta