This is part 8.
Of the Compassion Series Circle of Kindness.
It is the final instalment of the series.
And yet it may be more helpful to think of it as a new beginning.
If you have been a regular attendee participant,
I would like to thank you for your commitment to this practice.
But if you are a spontaneous first time participant who maybe stumbled onto this somehow,
Then I would like to honour your curiosity and your willingness to listen.
It doesn't really matter actually whether you are a newbie or an old hand.
What's important is that you are here now.
And so we begin by honouring here-ness and now-ness.
The qualities of your present moment environment.
The sounds,
The smells,
The quality of light where you are.
The temperature of the air.
And then we attend to the internal environment of our bodies.
Including in that the qualities of breathing,
The sensations of breathing.
And the myriad other sensations that may be present for you right now internally.
Including in that the lack of sensations,
Perhaps it's not so easy to feel your left little toe right now.
But it may be that the pressure your sitting bones exert on the surface you are perched on is somehow easier to identify.
We include in our internal exploration the qualities of mind and thoughts and feeling that may be arising right now.
We give them space and room to be as they are.
We honour them with our preference.
But with reference to our compassion practice ongoing.
It may be useful to explore these qualities of mind and heart arising right now as pointers.
Pointers towards that which you may be in need of right now.
Or to put it more simply.
What do you need?
You.
And this time instead of offering a formulaic.
Benefits.
The invitation is for you to offer yourself some words of compassion.
Related to that which may be lacking for you in your life right now.
So for example if you are feeling tired.
The offering to yourself maybe something like.
I get a good night's sleep.
It may be that simple.
So taking a moment to explore personal needs and they may be very simple they may be very complex.
They may be burning issues.
And they may not.
Maybe one thing that you would like for yourself right now.
And then maybe five things or 10.
And these things.
You desire.
What somehow make your life more appeasing.
More grounded more peaceful more stable.
Happier.
And having identified this thing or these things that you need.
From the offering for yourself to yourself.
As personally.
As you can right now.
This is your time.
Now what would it be like.
To offer that.
Exact same.
Mantra of benevolence.
To someone.
In your life.
Maybe a family member or a friend exactly that which you feel like you need for their benefits.
Invite that person into your awareness.
And if it's one or two.
So be it it may be more.
Offer the same words.
And then spread it further.
Some neutral people.
In your life right now.
You may know them by name perhaps you just.
I've seen them around.
But they are vivid alive beings.
Which are somehow.
In some way.
Connected to you.
To your life.
Bring them into your awareness.
As vividly.
As you can.
Offer them that which you feel like you need.
Could you offer these same words.
Collectively.
To the people.
In your neighborhood.
In your city.
What about the people in your country.
Make this offering.
To them now as sincerely and genuinely as you can.
And now further.
Reaching through and with the imagination.
Wanted to be like to offer these same kindness.
This same kindness.
To somebody you don't know.
That you don't even know exists.
You imagine they exist.
What it would be like.
To offer the same to.
A widow.
Who's holding.
Her five year old son by the hand.
Standing at the border being forced to leave her country.
Because of conflict.
In which she lost her partner.
Could you connect with.
That image.
And offer her the same.
Kindness.
To the people.
Right now.
The 81 year old.
Battle tank commander whose actions and presence.
Has caused this woman to flee.
Her home.
In sorrow.
And now.
Could you offer the same to him knowing that.
She has passed her Waves for the benefits of yourself,
Those near to you and dear and those further away and neutral and perhaps even for the benefit of those whose presence makes others,
Other lives difficult.
Could you offer the same words of connection and compassion and kindness to me for the benefit of all beings right now?
And then finally returning to the qualities of your environment internal and external,
Perhaps opening eyes and allowing some light and shapes to be identified,
Resting in the qualities of being present,
Leaning towards the qualities of being mindful and opening to the qualities of being kind.
Thank you.
