May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.
May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.
May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.
May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness.Who doesn't wish and want these things for their own lives? Why should we be selfish and wish these things for ourselves without wishing them unto others, too? I think that the importance of this exercise is to share it. I really feel that if everyone practiced something like this, the world would be in a better place. People wouldn't be so miserable all the time. The little stressors in life wouldn't have the power to overcome an entire day or week and get people so down in the dumps. I went through a very rough part of life a few years ago when my first husband and I divorced. Instead of finding pity in my situation and trying to have all of my friends and family feel sorry for me, I turned it into a positive. I realized that we were not meant to be together and that I would find true happiness somewhere else. A few months after my divorce, I met the man who is now my everything. We married and it's now almost two years later and we have a precious little daughter on the way. I wouldn't change it for anything in this whole world. After my divorce, I got a tattoo of the Sacred Heart with the quote "I will console them in all their troubles" (which is one of Jesus' promises of the sacred heart). I got it, not only for my healing process, but to remind anyone who looks at it or asks me about it that they are not alone. I feel like this loving-kindess exercise sort of has that same idea.
I think if we all practice these exercises and wish these things for not only ourselves, but for each other, we'll have mass amounts of good karma floating through the air. :)
Nickie, I totally agree with you. We are meant to share these practices with others. I think the best way to share them is to just practice them every day ourselves. Show others loving-kindness, practice compassion, and others will see that in you. You can affect those around you positively or negatively, or have not affect at all. How sad to be ineffective or negative. I want to make a positive change in someone's life. I am so glad you found happiness with your husband and are looking forward to a beautiful baby girl to welcome into your life. I can tell you from experience that there is nothing like it. It is the absolute hardest job in the world to be a parent, but the most rewarding!
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