The Waking

    Sunset meditation The Loving Kindness, or Metta meditation is a popular practice, particularly within Buddhism, Jainism and some forms of Hinduism. In Theravada Buddhism in particular, loving-kindness / metta is recognised as the ninth of the ten perfections cultivated on the path towards awakening or Buddhahood (Apple, 2012). As the name suggests, it is about developing friendliness, goodwill and benevolence in oneself and radiating this out towards all beings. The main method of practicing this meditation today is as a four-stage process in which one thinks or chants something like the following:     • May I be happy     • May I be healthy     • May I be safe     • May I be peaceful This is then repeated, but directed towards a friend (“May [friend] be happy, May [friend] be healthy” etc.), then towards a neutral person and finally towards a difficult person. By the way, this is a fairly flexible practice, so you can change the wor...

  Remember, friends, as you pass by, As you are now so once was I. As I am now, so you must be. Prepare yourself to follow me. An old epitaph by Anon. Meditation can be a wonderful practice when someone is getting close to the end of their life . I f this is you, i t can help make your transition more conscious, easier and more peaceful. It can also help face up to the reality of death and prepare to die with acceptance and equanimity. I certainly intend to enjoy more meditation if I have time to prepare when my time comes . If it’s someone else who’s dying, and meditation is not their thing, you can bring a peaceful presence just by sitting quietly nearby. And, of course, you would also be helping busy medical staff, as well as family and friends, by creating a calmer atmosphere. A quick internet search will uncover many meditations on the subject of death itself, intended as preparation. I have always valued simplicity though, so the following is ...