Metta, Tonglen, and the World Today

Ephesians 2:11-22

Remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision” —a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

 

So there is much that could be said about this reading in relationship to current events.  The trouble in the middle east continues to this day.  The trouble in the United States also continues as well.  Elsewhere in the world war and conflict continue.  Churches have conflict, most recently over LGBTQ+ rights.  But I remember in the 70’s this struggle being over women’s rights.  I remember the first female priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland serving her transitional deaconate in my home parish.  I remember hearing her preach and feeling the doors opening for me.  I remember being the first female head acolyte in my parish in my senior year of high school.  I remember what it felt - and at time still feels -  like to be on the outside.

But the above question begs the now trivialized question, “What would Jesus do?” I contend his answer is no different then the answer Buddha would give.  Both lead with loving kindness and acceptance of all. The Buddha taught the Metta Meditation which is a meditation on loving kindness that many in yoga lead and do on a regular basis.  I found this recently written article by Jack Kornfield that explains this well:

“How to Do Metta by Jack Kornfield| June 15, 2021

Jack Kornfield on beginning this time-honored, heart-opening practice.

In our culture, people find it difficult to direct loving-kindness to themselves. We may feel that we are unworthy, or that it’s egotistical, or that we shouldn’t be happy when other people are suffering. So rather than start loving-kindness practice with ourselves, which is traditional, I find it more helpful to start with those we most naturally love and care about. One of the beautiful principles of compassion and loving-kindness practices is that we start where it works, where it’s easiest. We open our heart in the most natural way, then direct our loving-kindness little by little to the areas where it’s more difficult.

First, sit comfortably and at ease, with your eyes closed. Sense yourself seated here in this mystery of human life. Take your seat halfway between heaven and Earth, as the Buddha did, then bring a kind attention to yourself. Feel your body seated and your breath breathing naturally.

Think of someone you care about and love a lot. Then let natural phrases of good wishes for them come into your mind and heart. Some of the traditional ones are, “May you be safe and protected,” “May you be healthy and strong,” and “May you be truly happy.”

Then picture a second person you care about and express the same good wishes and intentions toward them.

Next, imagine that these two people whom you love are offering you their loving-kindness. Picture how they look at you with concern and love as they say, “May you too be safe and protected. May you be healthy and strong. May you be truly happy.”

Take in their good wishes. Now turn them toward yourself. Sometimes people place their hand on their heart or their body as they repeat the phrases: “May I be safe and protected. May I be healthy and strong. May I be truly happy.”

With the same care let your eyes open, look around the room, and offer your loving-kindness to everyone around you. Feel how great it is to spread the field of loving-kindness.

Now think of yourself as a beacon, spreading the light of loving-kindness like a lighthouse around your city, around the country, around the world, even to distant planets. Think, “May all beings far and near, all beings young and old, beings in every direction, be held in great loving-kindness. May they be safe and protected. May they be healthy and strong. May they be truly happy.”

The Buddha said that the awakened heart of loving-kindness and freedom is our birthright as human beings. “If these things were not possible,” he said, “I would not teach them. But because they are possible for you, I offer these teachings of the dharma of awakening.””

There is a form of mediation that takes this a step further called Tonglen. Buddhist Monk Pema Chodron recently described it this way, “Tonglen practice, also known as “taking and sending,” reverses our usual logic of avoiding suffering and seeking pleasure. In tonglen practice, we visualize taking in the pain of others with every in-breath and sending out whatever will benefit them on the out-breath. In the process, we become liberated from age- old patterns of selfishness. We begin to feel love for both ourselves and others; we begin to take care of ourselves and others… You can do tonglen for people you consider to be your enemies—those who hurt you or hurt others. Do tonglen for them, thinking of them as having the same confusion and stuckness as your friend or yourself. Breathe in their pain and send them relief.”

We humans have a lot of work to do. We may not all agree but leading with compassion and understanding is a great place to start.  Even if we solved all of the current issues in the world more would present themselves.  This cycle and self-reflection never really end.  With meditation, prayer, and scripture reading hopefully we, or I, can find a way to a better, more compassionate future.

Namaste

Image from: https://www.stillnessspeaks.com/loving-kindness-meditation/

 

The Loving Kindness of Community

 

 

Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said, “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Definitions:

Sangha – Community

Shala - Home

Metta – Loving Kindness

 

I struggled with this reading for a good part of this week.  It would be easy to write about the last line “where two or three are gathered, I am there.” But that discounts everything that came before.  Jesus appears to be talking about rules for throwing people out of community. This seems to be counter-intuitive to the life and teachings of Jesus.  Why would he talk about rules for leaving this community?  Then, while listening to Fr. John’s sermon, all became clear.  This is not about excommunication but about communication and community.  Fiercely working to keep all in community. This is about the seriousness of the call.  That lives will be affected by the decisions they make. They are expected to persevere to keep the community together. And that “if all else fails” then…But Jesus really doesn’t expect “all else to fail.”  He expects us to work hard to keep our community intact. But how?  

Many ideas come to mind when considering how to keep a community together: Compassion, Loving Kindness, Active Listening, Understanding, and Compromise. Over the past two millennia much of this has and has not been done.  There are still Christian communities that existed then and there are many that have grown, shifted, or changed through this radical commitment to God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This idea of community could be paralleled in the Yoga Sangha.  Sangha is a Sanskrit term used in Buddhism to mean community.  In yoga is has been borrowed to mean the community of a shala (studio).  But yoga shalas are different, some focus on Power Hot Yoga, Some on Gentle Yoga, Some welcome All Levels of Yoga. Some shift and change as their community changes. But no matter what their emphasis is the idea of Metta or Loving Kindness radiates from them all.  In Metta Meditation you start with prayer for yourself, move out to pray for the other, and end with prayer for all. There is an example in the photo. This feeling of Loving Kindness for all is what ultimate unites every Yoga Shala, every Yoga Sangha.

Loving Kindness is what should unite the world. There is too much separation now. Not just in the physical quarantine of these times, but in our thoughts.  Many have forgotten to lead with Compassion, Loving Kindness, Active Listening (to other points of view), Understanding, and Compromise.  These are the ideals that Jesus set out in this reading today. These are the ideals that the Metta Meditation sets forth. These are the ideals that we should all take into our conversations with those we do not agree with. With God’s help may we all be happy, healthy, free of suffering, free of mental anxiety, live in peace, and may our lives be blessed with ease.