“We are made of the love and kindness that other people have selflessly given us, and other beings benefit from the love and kindness we provide them,” writes sangha member Justin Hellier.
Sangha member Alicja Bardin writes from Poland: “I have often thought about people I know but don’t have daily contact with. We are connected, interconnected by circumstances, places, other people . . . After all, being connected is not the same as being in constant touch.”
Mitra Lee writes, “Usually we focus on ourselves, on our own well-being, our goodness or badness, and our perceptions of pleasure and pain, right and wrong, like or dislike. In the practice of the four immeasurables, we train to extend our attention beyond ourselves and our habitual, conditioned thoughts. They help us to open a place for others in our mind and, beyond this, to see others as the same as ourselves.”
In this article, Mitra Lee teaches: “Using our imagination enables us to expand our mind toward great love and great compassion, which are much more useful for bringing us into connection than are negative thinking and judgment. Kleshas, negative emotions, or depressing thoughts can really bring us down and cause despair, despondency, and disconnection. If we want to connect with ourselves and others, imagining, cultivating, and offering love and joy will be of much more benefit.”
Ben Mikolaj challenges us to face contempt with compassion: “Loving kindness has no exceptions. Even those who terrify, disgust, or enrage us are beings who feel pain and long for happiness. Even those who actively oppose empathy are worthy of it.”
In a heartfelt offering, Francis Olivier shows the gift of being vulnerable: “It was during that night that I realized how difficult I’ve been, how unpleasant at times I’ve been in the world. Despite this, my friends in my community have always put up with me. Always supported me.”
