Mindfulness- Lovingkindness Week 2

​Dear UU Parents and Guardians

I'd love for you to join us for our weekly offerings: 
***Note: Some of these links have changed as there are now required passwords for safety***

Sunday 11am 

Sunday School 
30 Min Program geared towards K-5 but open to all ages
Email me for the link

Middle and HS Zoom 
Monday nights 6pm: 
Email me for the link

Parent and Guardian Chat: 
The chance for parents and guardians to just get together and
Every other Thursday 8pm and every other Wednesday noon
Thursday the 16th 8pm
      Link: https://zoom.us/j/866583131     Password: lovemykids
Next Wednesday the 22nd noon
      Link: https://zoom.us/j/474526337     Password: lovemykids

New Youtube links for this week!

Story with Ms Alexa: https://youtu.be/7vSHefCpF08

Story with Miss Heather: https://youtu.be/E35juPsiMaQ

Music with Miss Molly:    https://youtu.be/fFIgFQD5PvA  

Weekly Message for Parents and Guardians
Theme this week:
Loving kindness (ie: 'metta' in Buddhist tradition) (Yup - week 2 of this theme)

Chelsea's Meditation: https://youtu.be/vdja8__933M

The meditation lessons which I am doing are geared towards K-5th graders, but everyone is welcome to them. The theme for my lesson this week was: loving kindness which is also known in the Buddhist tradition as 'metta'. Sending love to ourselves and also out to the world. 

The video this week continues with a loving kindness meditation. 
With children, I used phrases such as, "May my family be happy....may I be happy....may all beings be happy" etc
Some alternate phrases which your children could do, or for you to keep in mind for your own practice are: 
May I accept this _____ as it is
May the power of loving-kindness support me
May I accept/let go of/be free from this anger/fear/resentment/shame
May I be free from danger. May I be protected. 
May I feel ease of heart
May I be held in compassion
May I be free from pain and sorrow
May I meet fear with courage and an open heart
May the force of love transform my fears
May I be happy just as I am 
May my body relax
May I show myself the same kindness I would show to a loved one

Questions for you as a parent/guardian this week: 
1. Do you think that kindness for others begins with kindness for oneself? Why or why not? 
2. Did the metta practice have any impact on your interaction with your children and others living in your home? 
3. How have relationships that foster loving kindness changed with social distancing for your family?

Strategies: Words by Sumi Loundon Kim

If it's not easy to send loving-kindness to yourself, try one or several of these strategies. 

Envision a Circle of Kindness
Picture yourself sitting in the middle of a circle of people you admire and respect, as well as those who love you. Imagine each person one at a time, or all the people in the circle at once, sending you metta. 

Remember Your Goodness
Recall at least one thing, perhaps more, that you have done that was kind or thoughtful in the recent past. The gesture can be as simple as holding the door open for someone or refraining from saying something crabby to a family member because it would ruin their mood. Or you might remember something from the past few days or months that revealed some aspect of yourself that was admirable or lovely. 

Build a Fire
Ajahn Brahm, a well-known Buddhist monk based in Australia, instructs people to do metta for themselves at the very END of the meditation. He likens building the heart of metta to building a fire. He begins with small, dry kindling that easily bursts into the flame of love; for him, this means imagining a small, homeless kitten, which he takes into his arms and promises to care for and love, Then, he recommends one add sticks to this small fire that are harder to light, but nonetheless will catch fire easily from the kindling and logs: these are analogous to friends. With a stronger fire started, then one sends metta to neutral people, then to difficult people, like wet logs, and then finally, when the fire is roaring, we can add, like a wet and sappy stick, our own selves. Practicing metta in this reverse order is an excellent strategy for those struggling with self-hatred. 

Be gentle with yourselves this week. 
I am grateful for you.