Lovingkindness meditation is a practice tied in with selflove, empathy. Sharon salzberg writes that by practicing kindness with others and yourself, over and over again, and this is who you become, this is what feels most natural. But these feelings can also awaken in us the desire for freedom and the willingness to take up the spiritual path. Healing after an infidelity laura cunningham and yuleisy cardoso cunningham, laura, phd, ncc, is an assistant professor of counselor education at argosy univerisity sarasota. Conversations on compassion with sharon salzberg the. Sharon salzberg, one of americas leading spiritual teachers, shows us how the buddhist path of. Sharon salzberg is one of todays bestknown buddhist teachers. As i was i was doing the dishes on monday morning i was thinking about who i might think of during lovingkindness meditation this week. The book is one i always come back to and though for me. Jack kornfield, author of after the ecstasy, the laundry reading salzbergs book produces the sense of having been gifted abundantly. Stream lovingkindness meditation from sharon salzberg the mindful practice podcast by from desktop or your mobile device. Mindfulness and lovingkindness a handful of leaves. Learn how to practice lovingkindness meditation by sharon. Ill be offering as guidance the phrases that ive chosen to use in my own practice.
One recites specific words and phrases evoking a boundless warmhearted feeling. Join us today as we talk about the beautiful practice of loving kindness meditation loving kindness with sharon salzberg. Youre joining thousands of people from across the globe in this mindful adventure. The insight meditation society is one of north americas oldest institutions dedicated to bringing the lifechanging gifts of mindfulness training to the we. Sharon salzberg explains the buddhas teachings about practicing lovingkidness, sympathetic. Loving kindness, the english translation of the pali word metta, is defined as unconditional wellwishing and openhearted nurturing of ourselves and others, just as we are. The ancient buddhist practices of vipassana mindfulness and metta loving kindness are the foundations of her work. How a 31day loving kindness meditation challenge transformed my relationships and reduced my anxiety. Through the power of this practice, we cultivate an equality of loving feeling toward ourselves and all beings. Sharon salzbergs book illuminates the heart of lovingkindness like a lamp in the darkness, like the clearing of the fog, like a. There is also a lot of joy when one is unselfishly caring for a friend. Lovingkindness available for download and read online in other formats.
Facets of metta sharon salzberg copyright 1995 sharon salzberg. A few weeks ago i listened to a podcast with sharon salzberg, bestselling author of real happiness, talking about equanimity. They are available as a desktop wallpaper, a subscription to your default calendar service, and a printable pdf. Sharon responds to some of the questions and concerns that often arise when one delves into the practice of loving kindness meditation, or metta.
Sylvia boorstein, turning wheel sharon salzbergs book illuminates the heart of lovingkindness like a lamp in the darkness, like the clearing of the fog, like a sunrise on a beautiful morningit brings light so that all those. Positive emotion correlates of meditation practice. In this program, we consider the considerable power sometimes underestimatedof having benign intentions toward others. Loving kindness throughout our lives we long to love ourselves more deeply and find a greater sense of connection with others. Lovingkindness meditation practice greater good in action. The revolutionary art of happiness to date regarding the publication we now have lovingkindness.
You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection, you can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. The practice of metta meditation is a beautiful support to other awareness practices. A friend tells me that many years ago sharon salzberg was very dismissive of the metta bhavana or development of lovingkindness meditation practice. Like the pearl, love can only buy itself, because love is not a matter of currency or exchange. I had taken about six weeks to go through all the different categories. Lovingkindness and compassion are the basis for wise, powerful, sometimes gentle, and sometimes fierce actions that can really make a difference in our own lives and those of others. Sharon has been a student of meditation since 1971, guiding retreats worldwide since 1974. The revolutionary art of happiness shambhala classics. Description of the book heart as wide as the world. The strength of this feeling is not limited to or by family, religion, or social class. When we train our attention to be inclusive toward all of lifes happenings, we quickly see the interconnected nature of our lives, and our limited perspective shifts to encompass the greater whole.
Exploring lovingkindness meditation to heal the body with. Our fear of intimacyboth with others and with ourselvescreates feelings of pain and longing. Meditation is a simple practice available to all, which can reduce stress, read more. Sharon salzberg is a central figure in the field of meditation, a worldrenowned teacher and ny times bestselling author. In this video, meditation teacher sharon salzberg shows how to bring the mind of metta, or lovingkindness, to the fore by taking the opportunity to offer wishes of goodwill and happiness to all everyone you see, and everyone unseen. Pdf lovingkindness meditation increases social connectedness. Pdf lovingkindness download full pdf book download. A conversation with sharon salzberg psychology today. Lovingkindness meditation from sharon salzberg the.
It is sometimes difficult to view compassion and loving kindness as the strengths they are. The revolutionary art of happiness, by sharon salzberg. Both mindfulness and lovingkindness practices emanate from. In this practice we recognise that we deserve to be happy and that our desire to be happy is right and just, just as all beings everywhere deserve to be happy and free from suffering. In 1974, she cofounded the insight meditation society at barre, massachusetts with jack kornfield and joseph goldstein. I can still remember that it was a good feeling when i was cradled to sleep by my mother. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In this excerpt from sharon salzbergs the kindness handbook, she teaches us that by repeatedly practicing kindness and generosity with others and ourselves, that is who we become and what begins to feel most natural. The revolutionary art of happiness shambhala classics revised edition by salzberg, sharon isbn. Leave it to sharon to explain a big concept in a practical way, with a. Salzberg exposes the warm beating heart at the center of buddhism. Maria shriver sat down with sharon salzberg to talk about loving kindness and how we can help others by opening our hearts. The new york times has created an in depth guide to meditation by david gelles including a variety of free guided meditations by sharon and tara brach.
In this study, the authors used a brief lovingkindness meditation exercise to. Lovingkindness meditation is unique to our buddhist traditions, and in this book sharon salzburg presents us with an informative body of work on its practice. Sharon salzberg looks at lovingkindness meditation as a different approach to life and healing. The foundation of metta practice is to know how to be our own friend.
She uses her understanding and knowhow drawn from many years of practice to point each and every one of us to the realization that the light of love is already within us all. Influenced by her more than twentyfive years of study with burmese, indian, and tibetan teachers, she teaches intensive awareness practice vipassana or insight meditation and the profound cultivation of lovingkindness and compassion the brahma viharas. Now theres a deepsounding word that ive heard, but never really understood. It is so easy for us to dwell on all of the regrettable things we have done or said the times when we now feel we were too timid or too. If you want to go deeper, sharon salzburg and tara brach have written and recorded a lot about radical self. A meditation a great questionandanswer session it includes ways of relating to the. Its a modern reframe of loving kindness where you find what you have in common with someone else and use that as a starting point to wish them well.
In this inspiring book, sharon shows us how the buddhist path of lovingkindness can help us discover the radiant, joyful heart within each of us. But sometimes the very love and happiness we want can be found just by sitting down. Sharon tells her story and discusses metta for people of all experience levels. Loving kindness meditation uses simple phrases to evoke feelings of care and. New age journal reading salzbergs book produces the sense of having been gifted abundantly. She is the cofounder of the insight meditation society, an organization dedicated to spreading awareness about the benefits of meditation at all levels.
In her book on loving kindness, sharon salzberg writes. Conversations on compassion with sharon salzberg may 7, 2015 by ccare staff leave a comment the center for compassion and altruism research and education videos conversations on compassion, lovingkindness, meditation, mindfulness, sharon salzberg. Metta bhavana cultivation of lovingkindness the good symbol for metta lovingkindness is the mother cradling her baby to sleep. Lovingkindness meditation sometimes called metta meditation is a great way to cultivate our propensity for kindness. Sharon salzberg sharon salzberg, a student of buddhism since 1971, has been leading meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. In this inspiring book, sharon salzberg, one of americas leading spiritual teachers, shows us how the buddhist path of lovingkindness can help us discover the radiant, joyful heart within each of us. Her emphasis is on vipassana insight and metta lovingkindness methods, and has been leading meditation retreats around the world for. The buddhist teachings have the power to transform our lives for the better, says sharon salzberg, and all we need to bring about this transformation can be found in the ordinary events of our everyday experiences. Lovingkindness meditation is mentioned several times in my book balanced positive psychology, along with brief descriptions of what it involves and how it is used. However, i recently spent some time reading two of sharon salzbergs books lovingkindness and the kindness handbook, and it was time very well spent. We spend our lives searching for something we dont think we have, something that makes us happy. Sharon salzberg born august 5, 1952 is a new york times best selling author and teacher of buddhist meditation practices in the west.
There was a time in burma when i was practicing metta intensively. Guided lovingkindness meditation from sharon salzberg by. Renowned meditation teacher and bestselling author sharon salzberg recently presented a workshop at 4th street yoga in berkeley. Its only after weve practiced many times that well begin to notice a habit developingnamely, letting ourselves off the hook once in awhile. Sharon salzberg is a famous author and teacher of buddhist meditation. Sharon salzberg sharon salzberg is a meditation teacher and new york times bestselling author. This practice emphasizes the development of a loving and compassionate heart. Alan clements, and sharon salzberg, who have been widely attributed with playing. But these feelings can awaken in us the desire for freedom and the willingness to take up the spiritual path.
It involves mentally sending goodwill, kindness, and warmth towards others by silently repeating a series of mantras. Youre invited to alter these phrases and choose whatever words express your wishes of loving kindness toward yourself and others. Sharon salzberga teacher of buddhist meditation, author of lovingkindness, faith and other popular books, and cofounder of the insight meditation societyshares an ancient technique known as lovingkindness meditation. What is a more effective way to deal with an enemy, inner or outer, than locking into separation, hatred and fear on the one hand, or becoming completely tangled up and overwhelmed by it on the other. According to the buddha, you can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. Lovingkindness practices booklet collection with cartoons. All human beings have a desire to be happy and to be free from suffering. By combining datasets from two rcts with similar designs and. So, beginning now to wish yourself well by extending words of loving kindness to yourself. Users who like guided lovingkindness meditation from sharon salzberg. The revolutionary art of happiness pdf responses users are yet to however still left their writeup on the action, or not read it but. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading lovingkindness.
No one has enough to buy it but everyone has enough to cultivate it. Mindfulness and lovingkindness sharon salzberg mindfulness, as the word is commonly used in contemporary meditation teaching, refers to both being aware of our present moments experience, and relating to that experience. She is the cofounder of the insight meditation society in barre, massachusetts, and has played a crucial role in bringing asian meditation practices to the west. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Sharon salzbergs book illuminates the heart of lovingkindness like a lamp in the darkness, like the clearing of fog, like a sunrise on a beautiful morningit brings light so that all those with eyes may see. Watch as sharon salzberg teaches street lovingkindness.