Loving - kindness .... that quality of thought toward another being that carries with it the intention and embodiment of detached compassion.

It is a simple and lovely gift not only to receive, but to give.

Practicing the Maitri, the loving-kindness meditation, has the immediate effect of putting your own heart in a loving place and diffusing any strong negative emotions you may feel toward another.

You can practice this short meditation as is, as an addition to your regular practice, or even call the words to mind as you go throughout your day and encounter other souls who may need this blessing from you.

The idea is that, beginning with your self (the one who usually needs your compassion most), then extending to a loved one, then to a friend, a stranger, and then finally to someone you have conflict with... you call each of these people to mind in turn, offering them these words:

May you be happy.

May you be healthy.

May you be peaceful.

May you live with ease.

There may be those that you have trouble feeling the words flow easily to. If this is the case, you can come back to them another time. But often, holding someone in your mind that have issues with while repeating these words has a tremendous effect of softening the hard edges around those feelings, and relieving the power those feelings have on your own being.

This simple practice can turn the whole direction of a 'bad' day around.

Perfect for a Monday morning!