As we know, yoga sets the stage for us to deepen our enjoyment of life. Through postures and breath we learn to pay attention, to turn our gaze and senses inward, to live in the present moment. These practices help us build resilience and patience.
The practice also invites us to deepen into ourselves through the koshas, the sheaths of our being. We watch the breath, the mind’s influence on the body, the body’s influence on the mind, and we learn how to steady all three. And as we begin to take more pause time, we develop the ability to turn towards the deeper practices of our wisdom body– our Vijnanamaya Kosha.
The Brahmaviharas are considered the Four Immeasurables. They include the practices of Loving Kindness- in Sanskrit, Maitri, Compassion- Karunā, Appreciative Joy-Muditā, and Equanimity- Upeksā.
These Immeasurables predate Buddhism and are discussed in early yogic texts. As these Immeasurables have been taught and studied in Yoga, Buddhism and Jainism, the different perspectives have influenced one-another.
I love the practice of the Brahmaviharas. They have literally changed my life. I didn’t realize repetitive practices could slowly change the way I viewed the world, myself and others. These practices are often simple and seem connected deeply to my own wisdom and to my awareness that we are all interconnected.
Here is one simple example: In the shower each morning I begin my loving kindness meditation. I make deep wishes of well-being for myself and others. Each day they may vary a little:
May I be filled with loving kindness for all beings.
May I be well.
May I be at peace.
May I be filled with joy and truly happy.
May I do good work in the world and make offerings from my heart.
May I be kind and compassionate.
May I recognize my place in a larger community.
Then I expand the wishes outward– towards my children, my parents, my friends, my students, people I see in town regularly and do not really know. I then expand farther, to whole communities, cities, countries, landscapes… out to all beings on our small and beautiful planet.
I think this is why Trommer’s poem speaks to me. (Press here for the poem.) The practice of the Brahmaviharas has helped me to know better that inner thrum that reminds us of our shared humanity. I like being a river of blood, one of the notes in a symphony, a part of the one big conversation. I like being one dust particle among many dancing in the light.
I try to really picture the people, the places, the beings I am wishing loving kindness for… Of course I can see the faces of my children– and do not see the faces of the people from Ukraine, Texas as clearly… and yet I imagine this love, these good wishes flowing outward, into all communities.
Loving kindness practice asks us to consider what love and happiness are– If I am to share love with those close to me, I have to be aware of my feelings as they arise. Thich Nhat Hahn has a beautiful little book called Peace is Every Step and in it is a chapter called Living Together.
In Living Together Thich Nhat Hahn tells us that when we live with others we cannot be happy if those we live with are unhappy. They cannot be happy if we are not happy. So we very carefully need to watch our own feelings in these relations– and with kind speech, let these loved ones know if we feel knots developing in our relationship. If we do, clear and loving communication can help us to untie the knots. If we untie knots when they arise, we won’t end up with many knots in between us, and we will be happier.
Practicing awareness and clear speech with those we live with is another loving kindness practice. Making sure we don’t develop resentments, hurt feelings, misunderstandings which I often feel growing in the tissues of my body; in my gut, in the tension in my shoulders and jaw. I like the image of untying knots that come up in our relationships with others, and keeping the area between us clear and open.
And as I think of those I love, I realize I do have some knots to untie. And as I write this I realize I will meditate on how to put my feelings into words with kindness and make sure when I speak I am also ready to take the time to truly listen to their perspective.
May you all be well– mind, body, heart and spirit. And may the practice of loving kindness and the other immeasurables help you to live happier lives.
Namaste.