Just Like Me Compassion Practice.
This meditation practice has been created by Ram Dass and Nearby Bush in order to create more cohesiveness,
Caring compassion between two people and among groups where we can begin to see and recognize others as part of ourselves.
This is a visualization practice where you can do this with an imaginary person that you get into your mind,
Or even more effectively,
You can do this practice where you're sitting directly across from a partner.
But in any case,
You can imagine your partner sitting right in front of you in order to build more compassion,
Awareness,
And care for one another in each and every day of our lives.
We can learn that others are like us,
A friend,
A colleague,
Someone who is neutral,
Or even someone who's difficult.
And you can use phrases that seem appropriate to you.
So for this meditation,
I'm going to ask you to center your mind on a person that brings a smile to your face.
This may be a friend,
A dear colleague,
A family member,
Or could it even be somebody who's no longer in this physical plane.
And what I'd like you to do is allow yourself to shower them in a bright light.
Imagine them smiling at you and you smiling back.
And as you have this person in your mind,
Begin to silently repeat these phrases to yourself.
This person has a body and a mind just like me.
This person has feelings,
Thoughts,
And emotions just like me.
This person has his or her life experienced physical and emotional pain and suffering just like me.
This person has at some point been sad just like me.
This person has been disappointed in life just like me.
This person has been angry just like me.
This person has been hurt by others just like me.
This person has felt unworthy or inadequate at times just like me.
This person worries just like me.
This person is frightened sometimes just like me.
This person has longed for friendship just like me.
This person is learning about life just like me.
This person wants to be caring and kind to others just like me.
This person wants to be content with what life has given just like me.
This person wishes to be free from pain and suffering just like me.
This person wishes to be happy just like me.
This person wishes to be safe and strong just like me.
This person wishes to be loved just like me.
Now in your mind,
Allow some wishes for well-being to arise,
Such as for your partner,
I wish that you have strength and resources and social support to navigate the difficulties in life with ease.
I wish that you be free from pain and suffering.
I wish that you be happy and peaceful.
I wish that you'll be loved because you are a fellow human being just like me.
Whether your partner is right there with you or you've brought your partner into your mind,
Thank that person for doing this practice with you.
Give thanks in whatever way feels appropriate.
Thank you for doing this practice with me.
May you be well,
May you be happy,
And may your life and your heart be filled with happiness and ease.
Return to your daily life and know at any moment you could come back to this practice whenever you need to create more harmony and peace and inner refuge in your daily life.
