Morning reflection

In order that I may be skilled in discerning what is good, in order that I may understand the path to peace,
Let me be able, upright, and straightforward, of good speech, gentle, and free from pride;
Let me be contented, easily satisfied, having few duties, living simply, of controlled senses, prudent, without pride and without attachment to nation, race, or other groups.
Let me not do the slightest thing for which the wise might rebuke me. Instead let me think:

“May all beings be well and safe, may they be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be, whether moving or standing still, without exception, whether large, great, middling, or small, whether tiny or substantial,
Whether seen or unseen, whether living near or far,
Born or unborn; may all beings be happy.
Let none deceive or despise another anywhere. Let none wish harm to another, in anger or in hate.”

Just as a mother would guard her child, her only child, with her own life, even so let me cultivate a boundless mind for all beings in the world.
Let me cultivate a boundless love for all beings in the world, above, below, and across, unhindered, without ill will or enmity.
Standing, walking, seated, or lying down, free from torpor, let me as far as possible fix my attention on this recollection. This, they say, is the divine life right here.

 Translated and adapted by Bodhipaksa from the Pali Metta Sutta

My morning routine involves meditating for half an hour or so after doing some spiritual reading. Among the things I read each morning is this version of a Buddhist teaching. I was particularly struck by the last line: This, they say, is the divine life right here.

More than ten years ago I was having a rough time, and I got the help I needed to deal with that. At one point during that process, as I sat in a group discussion with a number of people who were dealing with a variety of problems, I suddenly realized how much I cared about these folks who had been total strangers just a few months before. And even more surprisingly, I realized that sitting there with them, listening to them talk candidly about some of the most painful things in their lives, I was in heaven. I felt loved and loving and connected and content. 

Most people who were outside that situation and looking in would have thought I/we were in hell. But we were not. Somehow we were learning to "cultivate a boundless love" and, as they say, that is the divine life right here, right now.

Loverly!