Expanding Compassion
30-min Guided Meditation for Gentle Compassion
This week I’m sharing a guided meditation that reminds us that we are one thread in this fabric of Life. All beings desire happiness, and well-being, it’s a natural desire. When you sit down to meditate, you are working with that desire.
Some folks have told me they have trouble allowing feelings of well-being for themselves. When this arises, you can notice that feeling of unworthiness with compassion, because excluding yourself from the basic need that all beings have for peace and well being is a form of suffering.
To make yourself special or unloveable excludes the view that all are seeking the same thing. If you would want this for others, then you need to apply it for yourself, even if it brings up some sadness or grief for the ways in which you have learned to abandon yourself. If you tend to focus just on yourself, it is helpful to expand your intention when you sit, to see that you are part of a larger spectrum of Life.
Not all beings are seeking in the same way. Often seeking is like a zig-zag, we go back and forth, with addictions, or avoidance of healthy ways to experience well-being. Not all beings have access to the causes and conditions for well-being at this time, needing more consequences, or resources, before they can apply skills. But, if you can see that you are part of a larger field of beings that are practicing, then it reduces the seemingly separate sense of self.
The desire for well being is - in my opinion, and from the teachings in Buddhism - underlying all actions. We come into actualizing well-being with compassionate awareness of our participation in our suffering via greed, hatred and delusion, and in that process, we move toward non-greed, non-hatred and non-delusion.
This takes some effort and focus to see that we are not separate and we are not alone.
What is your investment in not allowing feelings of well being into your body? What is it like to only focus on yourself, and not include the many others who are also seeking well being? Can you see that you are a part of a larger whole?
May this guided meditation, now available on my YouTube Channel, help you work with this today.
With kindness,
Constance
Beautiful You Time
We each have unique lives and personalities, an individual consultation is a opportunity to fine tune your view, and your practice so that you are able to develop healthy ways to practice which leads to progress in insight.
“Constance had demonstrated her competence in navigating the complex path to spiritual transformation.”
Client
Order Your Copy of the Two-Time Award-Winning Memoir Time for Awakening!
Read the book Jack Kornfield calls “a profound meditative journey,” and Tara Brach describes as “a captivating and intimate exploration of how authentic awakening unfolds.”
James Baraz says, “The Buddha exhorted his followers, Ehipassiko, come and see for yourself, Constance Casey does just that.”
“Through curiosity and vulnerability, Constance shares her transformative experiences and embodied wisdom, inviting us into a deeper understanding of the human journey.”
Sharon Salzberg
Propelled by calm confidence, profound Truths are revealed to inspire joy for living in harmony. Time for Awakening is a story that will inspire both spiritual seekers and those simply curious about human meaning and connection, inviting all to embrace their unique path of awakening.
Support
Your support encourages me to make videos, write, and teach meditation.
Please like this video if you found it useful.
Please pass this along to others who may benefit.
Please leave a comment or question for future videos.
Please make a donation on my web site, or a pledge if you’d like to see more.
May you be well.
May we each educate our compassion for clarity and calm.
May you invite peace into your body/mind today.