Radical Generosity

Guided exploration of the four types of generosity – a process of cognitive training that would eventually lead us to behavioral changes: greater ease and creativity in practicing radical generosity to bring peace to an ailing world. Beginning with accepting generosity ourselves, we invoke the joy of sharing with others.

Transcript

This is a guided meditation on radical generosity inspired by the traditional Buddhist teaching on the four types of generosity that we can practice in this world.

In order to begin this practice we first settle our body,

Speech and mind in their natural state by bringing our awareness into the field of the body and noticing the wide array of tactile sensations arising throughout our body and then noticing and deeply relaxing our feet and toes,

Noticing and relaxing our hands and fingers,

Our facial muscles,

Our muscles,

Our pelvic floor,

And then expanding our awareness throughout the body while allowing it to breathe naturally without any control from our conscious mind's side,

Allowing the body to choose its own natural rhythm of breathing and its own way of settling,

Naturally relaxing,

Without losing the clarity of attention with which we began.

And then in this settled and still state we also bring to mind our overall motivation for practice,

For practicing any sort of meditation.

What is my highest spiritual aspiration?

What is my highest spiritual goal or psychological goal for any sort of practice that I might be doing,

Including this practice of radical generosity?

What is the highest aspiration for my own well-being and the well-being of all who live?

So we're recalling that and reinforcing that in our mind without motivation,

Maintaining the initial level of relaxation,

Stillness,

And vigilance in the body,

We bring our mind to the analytical practice of radical generosity,

First thinking of our own good,

Our own happiness,

Our own well-being,

Basically practicing loving-kindness for ourselves by thinking of everything that we need to receive from the universe,

But not merely to serve our base desires.

We need certain types of resources and support in order to be of benefit to others and to progress spiritually and psychologically.

So for this practice above our crown we can imagine a source of generosity,

A source of goodness and well-being,

And psychologically we can just think of all the other sentient beings or the universe or interdependence or something sacred,

Something profound,

Something divine.

But we imagine that above our crown has a sphere of light or any sort of sacred image or symbol that speaks to us,

A symbol of infinite abundance.

And then we imagine that in response to our need for different types of support we start receiving the four types of generosity from this source of abundance,

This manifestation of positive interdependence.

In first deeply wishing ourselves happiness and the causes of happiness,

We imagine receiving all the material resources that we might need in order to be of greater service to others.

Not excessively,

Not at the cost of damaging the environment or stealing from others,

But in a balanced manner,

Receiving adequate physical resources such as money,

Food,

Clothing,

Medicine and so on that would sustain our life in a balanced and harmonious fashion.

And imagining these resources coming into our life,

Pervading our body,

Speech and mind and supporting us,

Sustaining us.

Granted by the interdependence itself,

Granted by our community,

Friends,

Relatives,

Clients,

And by our own positive effort.

And then equally imagining that we are getting sound psychological advice or sound teachings on how to live our life harmoniously,

What we call the Dharma.

Sound teachings on how to live our life happily and how to liberate ourselves from suffering.

These teachings streaming forth from the source of abundance above us and pervading our body,

Speech and mind,

Coming forth through the positive interdependence to sustain us.

And then equally thinking about safety,

We all have faced dangerous situations in the past,

And what we long for is a feeling of being safe,

Being welcome,

Being protected.

Simply not being afraid for our life,

Dignity,

For our body,

Having fearlessness.

And so imagining that not only do we receive these outer types of safety,

But we also receive the inspiration to gain inner fearlessness that allows us to be fearless in the face of suffering,

Be courageous,

Be generous,

Be compassionate,

Not be fragile in the face of others' suffering,

But truly to be a hero that can be humble in supporting others.

So we're imagining receiving that,

Receiving outer safety and receiving inner fearlessness.

And then for the fourth type of generosity,

Imagining that we receive an endless stream of abundance and love,

Affection.

True affection for us as beings,

Ascension beings.

Imagining being truly,

Generously loved by others,

By our friends,

Relatives,

Our extended community,

And eventually all beings,

At least on the level of their basic goodness,

Beyond individual identities,

Problems,

Suffering,

Feeling and receiving that warmth.

And then we extend all this generosity to others,

And in order to do that,

We first imagine other beings,

We imagine ourselves surrounded by our friends and family,

We imagine beings that we are uncomfortable with,

What we sometimes call our enemies,

But basically anyone that we disagree with strongly,

That we don't feel too comfortable about or around.

And then we imagine all the other beings around us.

But for the sake of this practice,

It is good to imagine beings who are facing suffering right now,

Actively,

Or have consistently faced suffering in this world,

Through systemic oppression,

Through political oppression,

Through things like racism or misogyny or homophobia or any other type of hatred and neglect.

And we can think of specific groups that might require different types of resources.

And feeling the abundance that we have just mentally received through the universal source of abundance,

Through positive interdependence,

We now generate an active wish to share with others.

And first,

To share the material resources,

To endow others with food,

Clothing,

Shelter,

Medicine,

Money,

Any types of material resources that would sustain their bodies,

That would sustain their life.

In a dignified manner.

So now we imagine the very same source of abundance in our own heart,

The very same symbol or visual image.

And we imagine that out of our own heart,

All the types of necessary material resources stream forth to all the other beings.

And so breathing naturally,

We imagine giving out in an endless stream,

Providing every being with dignity,

With a dignified level of material resources,

Generously,

Justly,

Freely,

With no strings attached.

In a balanced and wise manner.

And we can especially imagine giving more with each out-breath,

Combining this practice with our natural breathing.

Just giving out,

Giving,

Giving,

And giving,

And imagining these beings actually receiving these gifts,

Simply because they deserve them,

They deserve food,

They deserve clothing,

They deserve friendship and support.

Everything that happens in the relative realm of our interactions.

And then imagining that now that we have satiated beings with these material resources,

We can also provide them with sound psychological advice,

With sound teachings on how to be happy internally with the Dharma.

And so with each out-breath we imagine sharing the teachings,

Sharing the methods,

Sharing the guidance that would bring all beings to inner well-being,

Happiness,

Freedom from depression,

Freedom from anxiety,

Freedom from stress,

Freedom from addiction,

Or any other type of mental suffering that is unnecessary.

Breathing out and giving these teachings to others,

Imagining them streaming forth from our own heart.

Sharing,

Sharing,

And sharing with each out-breath.

Which doesn't mean we need to be giving this advice to others ourselves,

It's more about creating the necessary conditions for others to meet these psychological teachings and find their own inner well-being.

So sharing that generously.

And then thinking of how all beings need safety and fearlessness.

And for many beings this implies having a safe refuge,

Having shelter,

Having a home,

Or living in a society that is equally safe for everyone.

Not through oppression,

But through genuinely maintaining social well-being.

And so imagining sharing that safety,

Sharing that fearlessness,

Sharing that protection.

Imagining these rays of fearlessness,

These gifts of safety,

Spreading out to the corners of the world,

Reaching all beings,

So that no one is ever again afraid to simply exist or to walk a dark street.

Imagining changing the world and making it a better place,

Where safety comes forth from a balanced type of interaction,

From genuine social harmony,

Where no one is feeling oppressed.

And then finally imagining sharing affection and love,

Companionship,

Tenderness and respect,

Which is something that so many beings do not have in abundance,

So many beings do not feel genuinely respected,

Genuinely cared for.

And so imagining spreading these infinite rays of respect,

Affection and tenderness and making every being feel loved.

Living out and sharing these gifts generously,

In abundance.

Imagining these gifts truly changing the face of the world,

Changing the lives of others.

And imagining that we're actually giving these gifts from what we actually possess.

Yes,

Our resources might be very limited,

But at the same time we do have something to give.

Some of us have money,

Some of us have time,

We all have kind words and smiles,

Some of us might be able to share good advice,

And definitely all of us are able to share affection and respect.

We all might contribute to the world being a safer place through genuine social harmony and through education.

And so imagining that,

And then on the basis of this act of imagination generating strong immutable resolve,

May I be able to generously share material resources,

May I be able to generously share sound psychological teachings or the Dharma,

May I be able to generously share safety and fearlessness,

May I be able to generously share affection,

Tenderness and respect.

And then releasing all these thoughts and aspirations for a very short while we bring our awareness back to the body.

Absolutely observing and settling our body,

Speech and mind once again.

And then as we invite the bell we also conclude the practice.

Reviews

A beautiful practice 🙏🏼

Valuable wisdom, thankyou

Very good lesson, in clear and accessible language. Thank you.

Many thanks for your guidance 🙏

I love this teaching that acknowledges we give from abundance. Generosity has felt hard when my cup of love and psychological safety was low. Now I am learning how to identify people who can help me fill it so that I too can return to generosity.

I felt my perspective shift to realize my capability for greater generosity with this meditation. Excellent teaching and very clear precise understanding 🙏🏼

Grateful for this chance to explore my habits around giving

Such an empowering way of thinking and affirming for myself and others. I can truly aspire to this generosity of mind, heart and body. Thank you.

Exactly the message and wisdom I was ready to receive today. With gratitude.

Thank you for your valuable teaching, I’ll use this today.

Truly wonderful aspirations to share.

Beautiful produced and spoken. Worthy of repeated listening

I’m so grateful to have this wonderfully integrated and thorough practice. Thank you 🙏🏽

When I practiced this meditation for the first time I was in a public place. That allowed me to connect to those people I encountered on a genuine level. So comfortable feeling of friendliness and caring that immediately brings sense of ease.
Thank you, Venerable

Great teaching.