Dealing with a nightmare
We all have to deal with things that cause difficulties and stress. When the thing that is causing us suffering is really bad and unpleasant, we often describe it as a nightmare.
A nightmare is an unpleasant dream that causes a strong emotional response, typically fear but also despair, anxiety or great sadness. So, when we describe a real situation as a nightmare, we are saying that it is causing us great distress.
For me, the current situation in Myanmar is a nightmare. This moment in Myanmar is filled with loud unpleasant noises, anger, confrontation, violence and much suffering. These things cause me to become increasingly stressed and unwell. There is one thing I can do to try and deal with this nightmare and that is to sit and meditate. Read about the valued Buddhist technique of 'metta' meditation below.
Complete the gaps with the missing verbs and prepositions.
Read the sentences and use your grammar skills to choose the correct answers
depending on / respect to / concerned with / consists of / aimed at
Metta meditation, often called loving-kindness meditation, is the Buddhst meditation practice (1)________ the cultivation of love and kindness. The practice generally (2)_______ silent repetitions of phrases such as "may you be happy" or "may you be free from suffering", directed at a person or persons who, (3)________ tradition, may or may not be internally visualized.
There are two related but slightly different methodological approaches. Firstly, practices that focus on compassion means that meditation consists of the wish to relieve a being from suffering. Secondly, meditation that focusses on loving-kindness. means wishing a being to be happy.
The practice gradually increases in difficulty with (4) __________ the targets that receive the meditator’s compassion or loving-kindness. At first the practice is (5)________ oneself, then people one loves (e.g. family and friends), then people one has neither good or bad feelings towards. Finally, the meditator extends their love, kindness and compassion to their enemies, and then to all beings, everywhere.
May all beings be happy and secure, may they be happy-minded.
Whatever living beings there are - feeble or strong, long, stout or medium, short, small or large, seen or unseen, those dwelling far or near, those who are born or those who await rebirth. May all beings, without exception be happy-minded.
Let none deceive another nor despise any person whatever in any place; in anger or ill-will let them not wish any suffering to each other.
Just as a mother would protect her only child at the risk of her own life, even so, let him cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings. Let her thoughts of boundless loving kindness pervade the whole world: above, below and across, without obstruction, without any hatred, without any enmity.
— Metta Sutta,
When you are ready, enter your answers in the sheet below.
May all people in Myanmar be happy and safe
May all people in Myanmar be free from suffering
Lots of love to you all - take care - Simon
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