Welcome to our latest suggested practise for the week. We are now broadcasting a live teaching each Monday evening. If you would like to participate please contact us using the contact form on the homepage.
1.0) If you feel so inclined, begin by reciting the usual prayers (please follow below links for text). Alternatively, try to think or articulate a wish for all beings to achieve liberation from suffering, etc .
Four Thoughts: contemplating each in turn – http://northantsbuddhists.com/the-four-thoughts/
Refuge Prayer: twice in Tibetan, once in English – http://northantsbuddhists.com/the-refuge-prayer/
2.0) The 4 Immeasurables – A guided meditation by Chamtrul Rinpoche – Presented by Steve Reynolds
The 4 Immeasurables can be an object of meditation and in this session I suggested focusing on the causes of each one.
For example:
Right Conduct to ensure we create good karma for ourselves and with Loving Kindness, others may be happy because of it.
The virtue of generosity can be a Compassionate way to help other people get through their suffering.
Being happy for other people’s happiness, as long as it’s from ethical behaviour, can increase our Sympathetic Joy.
Recognising that all beings have their own karma and are suffering too, can help us to treat them with Equanimity.
As a prayer, to build on our Bodhicitta (compassionate Buddhamind) by really feeling the wish for this to be.
- May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness
- May all beings be free of suffering and the causes of suffering
- May all beings never be separated from that sacred joy, which is free from suffering
- May all beings rest in equanimity, free from attachment and aversion
As a practice in daily life, finding ways to be friendly to others, support them and be happy for their happiness whether they are loved ones or not.
Even better is when we can enable others to do this as well.
–o0o–