The Buddha is not a god, but a human being born about two thousand six hundred years ago as Siddhartha Shakya. Having chosen to become a monk to dedicate all his time to transforming suffering, fear, jealousy, and anger, he attained awakening under the Bodhi tree. Because everyone possesses Buddha nature (Buddhata), it is possible to greet others by forming a lotus flower with both palms while breathing in and breathing out in mindfulness, recognizing the other person as a Buddha-to-be. This greeting, just like the act of shaking hands, should not be practiced automatically, but with the mindfulness that the person in front of us is alive in the present moment.

Hugging meditation is a profound practice of reconciliation and love, particularly useful when parting, returning, or when there is anger. To practice it, we should:

1. Breathe mindfully three times, breathing in to calm yourself and breathing out to smile, in order to establish your own presence and solidity.
2. Greet the other person with a lotus flower to allow them to prepare themselves and also breathe three times.
3. Open your arms and embrace the other person while being fully present.
4. Practice three breaths, being aware that your loved one is alive and feeling happiness.

Through the stories of a father and his son in Montreal restoring communication after two years of silence, and of a couple of doctors in Chicago, this practice demonstrates the power of the energy of mindfulness. A minute or two of this silent and mindful embrace is enough to transmit a profound message of forgiveness, to transform relationships, and to nourish gratitude for being together.