Today I attended a group meditation. The first half hour was a guided session. The instructor mentioned a sangha, and how this word also means vessel. He said that we could settle into the collective and know that our problems may be similar to those with someone else in the group.
In the final 5 minutes of the meditation session we were instructed to picture loved one "in loving kindness," which is essentially just thinking of them and sending good vibes. Next we held someone difficult in our life in loving kindness, then ourselves. I was reminded of an Orff conference I attended a few years ago, where a teacher shared that she browses her roll call at the end of each day in search of students to "send loving kindness" to, especially those who were quiet/easy to neglect and the more needy. I loved hearing this moment (I was eavesdropping at the time) because she did not try to problem solve, she just said, "Lord, show me how to be a better teacher for _______." Perhaps you may think that's lazy-to avoid solving it just then, but I think the spirit of this activity is that you purposefully set it on the back-burner and prime yourself to meet that person with greater compassion.
After our loving kindnesses, we each shared how long we'd been meditating and what made us start. Of course, you had the option to pass. I said I'd practiced about 1 year, and my intention is to stay buoyant in times of strife and grateful under all conditions. I also wish to be a better listener and more empathetic to others.
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