Picked up a random poetry book From the crowded shelf. Quick easy hour read: Delight and wonder. Then, Found…
Discovering Meta Prayers
I was introduced to a new practice called Meta Prayer. Being an empathetic individual, I often put my own needs last. Worry for others takes a lot of energy. By the end of the day, I am emotionally spent and have no energy left to do the things I need to get done for me.
Tonight, my 10-year old daughter and I were driving home. She looked at someone driving in a car next to us who had just vaped and then started coughing. She got really emotional and said she wished people didn’t have to smoke. She actually started crying because she felt so bad for that stranger. I reminded her she could say a prayer that he will make a better choice before he gets too sick. My thoughts went to the recent news reports of the many people now suffering from a new form of lung disease. I kept this to myself and reassured her that it is okay to be sad for others, but that we cannot do anything about what other people chose to do.
Meta Prayer seems to be a solution for both of us with our empathetic tendencies. The Meta Institute explains:
“The practice of Metta meditation is a beautiful support to other awareness practices. One recites specific words and phrases evoking a ‘boundless warm-hearted feeling.’ The strength of this feeling is not limited to or by family, religion, or social class. We begin with our self and gradually extend the wish for well-being happiness to all beings.”
Saying meta prayers at bedtime releases the lingering thoughts and concerns from the day. You can create your own statements, but the thing to remember is to be concise, purposeful, and repetitive.
Some examples of meta prayers The Meta Institute suggests are as follows:
“May I be happy. May I be well. May I be safe. May I be peaceful and at ease.”
You can say as many as you want. I like the idea of saying three for myself and three for others.
May I be well. May I find rest. May I find success in writing.
May my daughters feel loved. May my family stay safe. May my actions help others.
My daughter and I tried this out tonight before she settled into bed. She said three things for other people, including, “I wish that guy who was vaping decides to stop before he gets too sick.” Then she said three things for herself; one was “I hope I can stop worrying so much about other people.”
I tucked her into bed and said my own prayer that she would be able to have a peaceful night’s sleep. My heart is full thinking about her sweet love for others. I see so much of myself in her. We are partners facing the reality of each day together like Sherlock and Holmes deciphering clues.
I am grateful to have someone with whom I can discuss life and someone who wants to share her own individual take on things with me. After all, we are not meant to live this life alone. Children, friends, partners, all come in and out of our lives in God’s time to make each day brighter.
Please check out my book on Amazon! I need more people to buy and review it! Share it with your friends! Let me know what you think! Help me make a difference for other people by sharing my own insights on faith journeys and on mixed-faith marriages.
Reference:
“METTA MEDITATION.” Metta Institute, 2011. http://www.mettainstitute.org/mettameditation.html.