My dear friends,
The ninth precept in Point 2 of Geshe Chekawa's Mind Training in Seven Points advises us to:
This meditation is a profound practice that broadens our perspective on compassion and interconnectedness. This practice is not limited to those who wish us well but extends to those who wish us ill, those who are neutral, and those unknown to us. Here's how we can approach this meditation and understand its benefits on the Bodhisattva path.
Meditating on the Kindness of Those Who Wish Us Ill
- Recognizing Their Role in Our Spiritual Growth: Those who oppose or harm us provide us with opportunities to practice patience, tolerance, and forgiveness. In this sense, they act as our spiritual teachers, helping us to strengthen these virtues.
- Seeing Their Suffering: Often, those who cause harm are driven by their own suffering and confusion. Recognizing their pain can generate compassion for them. We understand that their actions are expressions of their suffering, not their true nature.
- Transforming Adversity into the Path: By using the difficulties created by these individuals as a means to deepen our practice, we transform adversity into the path of enlightenment (Point 3 of the Mind Training in Seven Points).
Meditating on the Kindness of Neutral Beings
- Interconnectedness and Dependence: Neutral beings, those we may not have a direct relationship with, are part of the vast network of interconnectedness that sustains our lives. Every day, we benefit from the efforts of countless unknown individuals, from the food we eat to the infrastructure we use.
- Extending Equanimity: Meditating on the kindness of neutral beings helps us develop equanimity, seeing all beings as equally deserving of our love and compassion, regardless of our personal connections to them.
Meditating on the Kindness of Unknown Beings
- Expanding Our Compassion: Considering the kindness of unknown beings helps us to expand our circle of compassion beyond our immediate environment. It reminds us that all beings, known and unknown, have the same fundamental wish for happiness and freedom from suffering.
- Cultivating Bodhicitta: By meditating on the kindness of all beings, including those unknown to us, we cultivate Bodhicitta, the mind of love, compassion and wisdom, which aspires to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Practical Steps for Meditation
- Reflection
- Begin by reflecting on the kindness of those who wish you well. Feel gratitude for their actions and the support they provide.
- Gradually extend this reflection to those who are neutral, recognizing their indirect contributions to your well-being.
- Finally, include those who wish you ill, acknowledging how they help you develop patience and compassion.
- Visualization: Visualize the faces of various individuals—those you love, those you are indifferent to, and those you have conflicts with. Imagine them surrounded by light, representing their intrinsic goodness and the potential for kindness within them.
- Affirmation:Repeat affirmations such as, "May all beings be happy; may all beings be free from suffering," focusing on different groups of people each time.
Benefits on the Bodhisattva Path
- Breaking Down Barriers: This meditation helps to break down the barriers of attachment and aversion, leading to a more inclusive and universal compassion.
- Deepening Understanding of Emptiness: Recognizing the interdependence of all beings helps to deepen our understanding of emptiness, seeing that no being exists independently but is part of the web of life.
- Strengthening Bodhicitta: Meditating on the kindness of all beings strengthens our resolve to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all, reinforcing our commitment to the Bodhisattva path.
- Enhancing Ethical Discipline: This practice naturally leads to more ethical behavior, as we become more aware of the impact of our actions on others and are motivated to act with greater kindness and compassion.
By consistently meditating on the kindness of all beings, we cultivate a boundless love that transcends personal biases and preferences. This boundless love is the foundation of the Bodhisattva path, guiding us toward enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.