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The Four Kinds of People and the Art of Cultivating Loving Kindness
Making a profile of the four kinds of people around us in order to look deeply into our relationships and our own mind, to cultivate compassion and let go of attachment, so that we can live peacefully in the midst of life.
- Those whom we love and respect, but without attachment
- Those whom we truly love, where true love is nourished
- Those who have great difficulties, so that we can practice forgiveness and understanding
- Those who have no particular relation to us, helping us to see that nothing is truly separate
Practicing mindfulness and looking deeply to recognize and water the “seeds” of happiness and wisdom already present in each person, while also practicing protective mindfulness—using our own energy of mindfulness to blend with those who are weak—to help them become more stable. In this way, we clearly understand the conditions that create happiness (the four gratitudes), learn how to generate joy, embrace our suffering in order to discover our inner treasures. Finally, harmonizing talents and virtues in the Sangha, like combining salt and sugar, creates a collective strength for the path of practice and shared happiness.