Embodying Compassion Meditation

This is a practice of learning and embodying compassion. Connecting with all qualities of compassion and getting them to blossom within.

This meditation is to support participants of the Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living Course (MBCL) developed by Frits Koster and Erik van den Brink.

Transcript

Important compassion meditation in this practice we will be mindfully imagining ourselves as a compassionate being a source where compassion flows from allow yourself to find a comfortable position sitting or lying down and mindfully acknowledge all of you experience notice what's happening in the body in the mind in the heart and invite a soothing rhythm to emerge naturally deep and slow in whatever way it presents itself today letting all the senses to be involved imagining you the receiver of kindness from the safe place that surrounds you and now allowing a compassionate companion to emerge in whatever way it may appear today imagining being the receiver of kindness from another being that accepts you just the way you are and wishes you well imagining how this being embodies all qualities of kindness and compassion and now imagine you embody compassion yourself allowing all the qualities you imagined in your compassionate companion also to be present in yourself just let your imagination playfully create a compassionate version of yourself and mindfully explore what happens so imagine you deeply sensitive to the needs of others and yourself and committed to relieving suffering and promoting happiness you can sympathize feel with and empathize feel into experiences as they arise and understand what goes on inside our minds and hearts you have the courage to face what is difficult tolerate suffering and be present with it as long as it needs you embody wisdom and non-judgmental attitude Kevin learn from life's lessons you know how and when to respond in words and deeds new patient allowing space for not knowing and beginners mind opening yourself to new possibilities your whole being is filled by warmth kindness calmness and playfulness while you imagine embodying compassion also explore what effects it has on you explore what happens in your body noticing posture temperature feeling tone and noticing face eyes mouth and throat chest and belly arms and legs allowing your whole body to be involved and how does this affect your mind and mood state mindfully acknowledging all of your experience pleasant and unpleasant also your reactivity to the exercise maybe thoughts like I can't do this or feelings like disappointment or frustration mindfully holding this in kind awareness he's already embodying compassion the more you practice being in the compassionate version of yourself the more familiar it will become so be patient with yourself mindfully acknowledging whatever arises and returning again and again to the imagery practicing embodying compassion both in its gentle and powerful qualities you can also imagine embodying and radiating compassion when you look at something painful in yourself or something painful in the world around you like the suffering of another person imagining compassion flowing from you to where it is needed and you can end this practice in your own time or on the sound of the bell knowing you can always return to it