Generating ‘Metta’ : the healing power of self compassion.

Being able to embrace the entirety of ourselves both dark and light is helpful on any path of healing. Since what we often meet out there can trigger inner wounds this practice of embracing ourselves and attaining insight is helpful. The following reading comes from Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh’s book How To Love.

To love, first of all, is to accept ourselves as we actually are. The first practice of love is to know oneself. The Pali word metta means “loving kindness”. When we practice Metta Meditation, we see the conditions that have caused us to be the way we are, this makes it easy for us to accept ourselves, including our suffering and our happiness. When we practice Metta Meditation, we touch our deepest aspirations. But the willingness and aspiration to love is not yet love We have to look deeply, with all our being, in order to understand the object of our meditation. The practice of love meditation is not autosuggestion. We have to look deeply at our body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness. We can observe how much peace and happiness, and lightness we already have. We can notice whether we are anxious about accidents or misfortunes, and how much anger, irritation, fear anxiety or worry are still in us. As we become aware of the feelings in us, our self understanding will deepen. We will see how our fears and lack of peace contribute to our unhappiness, and we will see the value of loving ourselves and cultivating a heart of compassion. Love will enter our thoughts, words, and actions.

Thich Nhat Hanh