Lovingkindness Meditation

      

In this season of Advent we anticipate the gift of Christmas joy and peace this year and in fullness when Jesus comes again.  It is good to find ways to share a little joy and peace with others and to find ways to reconnect with God and the true meaning of Christmas.

One simple way to bless others while praying is using the Lovingkindness Mediation.  It is simple and yet can be quite profound.  Below is a set of instructions:

1. Close your eyes and imagine yourself as others see you.  From outside yourself looking on pray this blessing:    

                                 May I be safe.  
                                         May I be happy.  
                                                 May I be healthy.  
                                                         May I live with ease.

   2.  As you pray and repeat the phrases you can expand and think about what the words safe, happy, healthy and living with   
         ease might mean.

   3.  Using the same method pray for someone who has been kind to you or helped you (benefactor).

   4.   Pray this blessing for a friend.

   5.  Pray this blessing for a neutral person - someone you might not think about.

   6.  Pray this blessing for someone who is difficult.

   7.  Pray this blessing for a group.

                        As you receive grace upon grace from God who loves you - 
may you be safe, may you be happy, may you be healthy, and may you live with ease!

May ________ be safe.

May ________ be happy.

May ________ be healthy.

May ________ live with ease.

Self

Benefactor

Friend

Neutral Person

Difficult Person

Group

   From God’s fullness we all have received grace upon grace.
 - John 1:16