Monday, April 21, 2014

Aging gracefully April 20, 2014

I am reading a book called “Aging as a Spiritual Practice” by Lewis Richmond.  I’m a big fan of the Buddhist “self-help” genre, as these books always lead me to feel more centered, compassionate, and optimistic.  Midway through, the author proposes a variant on the Buddhist “metta” – loving kindness – “prayer”, as follows:

As I grow older, may I be kind to myself;
As I grow older, may I accept joy and sorrow;
As I grow older, may I be happy and at peace.

This short prayer can serve as the basis for a meditation practice, and it can be extended to others whom we know and then to all beings.  I am already feeling its gentle effect.  Are you?

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