Heart Connection: October 27 - November 2

The longest journey you will ever take is the 18 inches from your head to your heart.

Thich Nhat Hanh

This is the path of mindfulness. For me, it begins with coming into the body, paying attention to the breath, and allowing my swirling thoughts to slow down and settle. This is a concentration practice that is aimed at focusing my energy. Often this is as far as I get in meditation. Becoming centered is always a good thing.

And sometimes after I loosen the reigns of control, I'm free to listen to the heart. Underneath the constant stream of thoughts, is a still place where I hold my dreams, the people I love, and my deepest concerns. The shrine of my heart is a sacred place. Here I intuit direction, inspiration, and connection.

Meditation helps me cultivate an attitude of open-heartedness. When I make time to create a space in which I can hear this inner voice, wonderful things happen. Sometimes I experience healing when I look with new eyes at old stories. Sometimes I experience insight and I know exactly what mindful message I will share that week. Sometimes I recall the intentions of family and friends and I respond with prayer or an email of support. Sometimes I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the blessings all around me. Sometimes I am filled with grief and sadness for the broken world I cannot fix. Sometimes I experience love beyond telling and it is enough.

Practice

Metta or Loving-Kindness is a classical form of Buddhist meditation. It is a compassion practice rather than a concentration practice. Sharon Salzberg is a beloved meditation teacher who is credited with introducing Eastern meditation to the West many decades ago. She is best known for Loving-Kindness meditation.

Here's a slightly different version I offered based on the traditional phrases from Jack Kornfield.