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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Vishvapani

Good morning.

It might not be true that ‘All you need is Love’, but who can doubt that all of us, and the whole world, need much more kindness?

Over the next few days, I’ll be exploring themes from the Buddhist teachings on loving kindness, as a quality we can develop, drawing on a meditation practice with five stages that direct kindness to ourselves, then to different kinds of people and finally to everyone in the world.

The first of these stages – feeling kindness for ourselves – can be the most challenging. I hear people say that they love their families and give to others, but but are very hard on themselves. We seek out flaws in ourselves that we’d forgive in others, and measure ourselves against an imaginary standard we can never reach. Socially isolated or locked down, we can find that we’re left alone with someone we don’t like – ourselves.

For Buddhism, it isn’t selfish us to regard ourselves with kindness. Sensing our own value is a starting point for a happy life and giving to others. Imagine viewing yourself through the eyes of a friend who loves you; or as a mother gazing on her only child, and cherishes them as a unique being. We can love ourselves with all our faults, failures and tummy flab.

A pause to reflect, to meditate or to pray is also an opportunity to connect with our capacity to be content and appreciate ourselves just as we are. That reflection can be a prayer.

This is my time on earth, this is the only life I have.
I am worthy of love and respect.
So may I be well, may I be happy, may I be free from suffering.