Stories of Kindness from Around the World

[ A meditation on loving kindness. ]

Please put the attention on the breath for just a moment.

Think of yourself as your own mother and your own child. The child that wants entertainment and distraction is looking for pleasure, and the mother who loves the child completely, no matter what the child does, and has enough wisdom to guide the child along the right path. Feel the love of a mother for yourself; all-embracing, all-encompassing, always helpful, caring, concerned, soothing and supportive.

Now think of the person sitting nearest you as your own child, and you are the mother, embracing, supporting and caring, wanting to help, being concerned.

Now think of yourself as the mother of everyone here. Embrace each person with a feeling of warmth and care, support and helpfulness, the completeness of love, just as a mother has.

Think of your parents reversing the roles. You are the mother; they are your children. Embrace them, love and support them, soothing, caring, helpful. Just as a mother loves her child, no matter what it does.

Think of those people who are nearest and dearest to you, and embrace them with the love that a mother has for her children -- non-discriminating, supportive and helpful.

Think of your good friends and feel yourself as their mother. Embrace them with the love that a mother has for her children, always accepting, concerned and caring.

Think of all the people who come into your life now and then or often. Near or far. Make them all your children, be their mother. Embrace them, supportive and caring, accepting and helpful, nonjudgmental.

Think of any person, whom you may dislike or may have had some problem with. Think of that person as your own child.  Children often present problems, but mothers love them anyway.  Love this difficult person as a mother would do, and embrace that person with the warmth of a mother’s love.

Now imagine that you have a huge family, the family of mankind, and let your heart open to extend a mother’s love far and wide to reach as many people as you can with love and care and concern. Embrace them and support them. The larger the family the more love is in your heart, expanding, growing and enlarging the feeling
of belonging and togetherness. Making your heart a heart of love.

Now put your attention back on yourself and feel embedded in the love of a mother, which you extend towards yourself. It protects and supports you and embraces you with caring and concern. Feel yourself totally surrounded by the love and concern, at ease and safe.

May beings everywhere feel love for each other.