Karuna: May 3 - 9

In Buddhist philosophy, there are four heavenly abodes or homes, which are fundamentally attitudes of the heart. These boundless states are: loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. I will explore each of these over the next few weeks. I'll begin with compassion, or karuna in the language of the Buddha. Karuna is tenderness of heart in the face of another's suffering.

Most Sunday's you'll find me at Sit Club, an online meditation community based in Chicago, led by Davin Youngs. Rattles, one of the earliest members, gets her name from rehabilitating rattlesnakes although she loves animals of all kinds. She would never consider herself a teacher but frequently teaches through the example of her life.

Rattles requires regular tests and treatments for a serious medical condition. One day while sitting in the waiting room, Rattles noticed the receptionist having a rough day. Did I mentioned that Rattles sometimes carries a small bag of stones for such situations? Thus she offered a stone to the troubled receptionist, as a token of concern and empathy. Rattles tends to be quiet and unassuming but the strangers in the waiting room noticed her act of kindness. A man in the waiting room was feeling particularly anxious that morning. He caught Rattle's eye and would soon be gifted with a small stone. The magic of these heavenly abodes is the more your give the more you have to give. There is no limit to compassion. You can guess how the story ends. Yes, every person in the waiting room was given a stone that day and a lesson in karuna. Practice

Let's put practice into action this week. Grab a bunch of flowers, a small bag of stones, a batch of cookies, a stack of note cards, or a face full of smiles. Now take a mindful walk through your neighborhood. Make eye contact with those you meet and offer a small token of shared humanity. Repeat the process several times.

Check in with your heart. Do you feel generous and more connected? If so, you're dwelling in the divine abodes. Do you know someone who is suffering or going through a difficult time? Now is the prefect time to reach out from your tender and expansive heart. Gifts of stones and flowers and smiles can change the world or at the very least, change you.