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Mindfulness and Compassion in Action, The Heart of Compassion & Touching Peace
Breathing links body and mind, realizing oneness through the practice: “I am blooming as a flower, I am fresh as the dew, I am solid as a mountain, I am firm as the earth, I am free.” Just as a cloud transforms into rain, remaining fresh and solid allows for wonderful transformation. Meditation involves calming to restore stillness and looking deeply to understand. Many escape themselves through distractions to avoid internal conflict, yet peace is buried beneath suffering. The bell of mindfulness aids in returning to one’s true home. Mindfulness is the energy of awareness, producing true presence, which is the most important gift for a beloved: “Darling, I am there for you.”
Mindfulness is used to touch the body deeply. Breathing in, one is aware of the eyes; breathing out, one smiles to the eyes. This practice applies to the heart, lungs, and liver, bringing insight that stops harmful habits. Understanding is prajñā; without it, love can destroy. Love is composed of maitrī and karuṇā. One must return to the territory of the five elements: body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. The “true person” is found by touching this deepest level of being.
Lack of mindfulness leads to ingesting toxins through the senses. The Five Wonderful Precepts protect against this. This deep looking parallels Jewish traditions and the Christian Eucharist, where the Holy Spirit is the energy of mindfulness. Reconciliation begins with oneself by touching internal peace before making peace with other groups. The nature of interbeing means nothing can be by itself; a flower must interbe with sunshine. “This is because that is,” meaning the well-being of one group depends on the well-being of others.