Loving Kindness Meditation finding Comfort - Grieving Practice

When you are grieving, the intensity of your emotions can make it seem that life or a moment is not OK. Negative feelings may easily become overwhelming, leaving you feeling disconnected from others and terribly alone. At these times, directing loving kindness to yourself and those around is a simple way to reconnect with others and open your heart to receive their love.

I like the method of Loving Kindness

How I do it ...

  • As most often for such practices, I check that I do have a comfortable body position. This will be easiest lying down or seated. 
  • Once I feel comfortable I bring my attention and awareness to my breath, feeling the movement of my belly. Inhaling, noticing sensations of breath. Exhaling, noticing sensations of breath, as the belly rises and falls.
  • We'll now shift into this practice of joy. Now bringing to mind someone who you really believe has your best interests in their heart. Someone who has extended kindness and support to you. This could be someone you know now or someone from the past. Just take one person and bring them to mind as though they were seated right in front of you - that can be a friend, family member, a class-mate from your childhood, ... or when you can manage it think of the loved-one who passed away.

Now start to imagine...

  • Imagine this person is smiling at you. 
  • Imagine the person's hug, or what ever feels good to you.
  • Imagine them truly wishing for you to be happy, fulfilled. 
  • Imagine them beaming this towards you in their smile, in their eyes. 

And with your next breaths ...

  • Inhale and draw in that intention of goodness. 
  • And for a couple more breaths, really take in this wish of well, happiness, joy from this person who cherishes us.

Giving back loving-kindness to loved-ones

  • Now letting go of the image of this person, notice if in the body there is any emotional asset, still this good emotions, the warmness ... Feelings of warmth or goodness - wish of happiness.
  • Then relax into these sensations and feelings for just a couple breaths. 

Now share this good emotion 

  • Bring to mind someone in your life who could really use an extra boost.
  • Bring this person to mind vividly as though they were right in front of you. 
  • And now wishing this person to be truly happy, fulfilled, joyful.
  • As you inhale, draw in this intention.
  • And as you exhale, share with this person happiness and good emotions

  • Twice more—inhale, drawing in this intention
  • And then exhale, and sharing 

Now release the image of this person. And once again, just notice the sensations in your own body associated with wishing someone else well, generating and extending joy. 

Let's bring this practice to a close with three long inhales and three long exhales.




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