Welcome to my weekly adventure to “Occupy the Blog-o-Sphere” each Thursday. I offer this hopefully uplifting and picture and quote to brighten your day and bring something buoyant into your life. As you move through your day with a renewed outlook, may you pass it along.


In Buddhism, there is a practice called Mettā, or Loving Kindness. The focus is to cultivate friendship and peace with all living beings, including yourself. Often done in the form of a meditation, it is really a way of living described by the Buddha in the following Sutta (written collection of Buddha’s teachings).

This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:
… Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all beings be at ease.

 

Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty,
medium, short or small,

 

The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born –
May all beings be at ease!

 

Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.

 

Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings;

 

Radiating kindness over the entire world
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.

 

Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding…. 


While this may sound divine, it is challenging to practice on a day-to-day basis. I know. I falter often. But I also know that this practice is always there, available for me to befriend myself and others.

I hope the wisdom of this practice of Mettā in the Buddha’s words helps you to be more loving and kind to yourself and others around you.

Click on this link to find out more about joining this cyber-movement and decide if you want to spread the light, too.

For a place to begin learning about a Loving Kindness Meditation Practice, click here.

Peace, my friends.