Hello dear ones,
Here we are together, moving into the darkest season of the year. What better time to welcome winter sun on our faces, and practice love without limits?
We may wonder how Mindfulness could possibly help us feel ease, joy, and clarity during dark or difficult seasons.
We may think we need to take action.
We may be asleep at the wheel, or maybe resisting reality.
But Mindfulness practice serves not necessarily to make us comfortable—it serves to help us meet this moment as it is. (Darkness and all!)
We can ask: What is called for now? What is wise in mind, calm in body, skillful in action?
Someone once asked why the Buddha had a smile on his face when there is so much suffering in the world. The reply was because he can see beyond the pain to the wholeness of each of us and the world.
The Brahma Viharas—also called the Four Faces of Love or The Four Immeasurables (because they can bring us immeasurable happiness)—help us to experience limitless love.
The Four Immeasurables are:
- Loving Kindness or friendliness
- Compassion
- Sympathetic joy (feeling happiness for another person’s good fortune)
- Equanimity
We begin this week with Loving Kindness, a practice of friendliness which is not withheld from anyone. Like rain that doesn’t discriminate, this friendliness flows over all.
Now is the time to put on our big girl (or boy) pants and get serious about how freely we open our hearts rather than close them.
Now is the time to remember to smile at others we meet, letting go of the suspicion we may feel that keeps us apart.
I’ve found it amazing that when I smile at someone, they almost always smile back. Try it in the grocery store or wherever you find yourself among others.
As my teacher Christina Feldman says, there is no room here for hatred. We cannot afford it; the world and we are in need of love. Our love. Now.
Is it easy? No, but that was never the promise.
Now more than ever we cannot afford to waste our energy on ill-will, even for those who may challenge our own goodwill.
Love,
Kate xoxo