First Posted on September 18, 2016 –Re-edited September 10, 2017
Keeping it simple, here are six steps for practicing this profound prayer. Pick one arena of your life in which you are struggling. What’s your biggie for today? Practicing radical compassion, notice without judgment, as you contemplate, journal, and consider these steps, in relationship to that specific struggle:
Step #1. Acceptance
- What if reality, in its relentless perfection, is giving you exactly what you need to grow, no matter the discomfort of this moment? If this were true, how might your attitude change toward this situation?
Step #2. Surrender
- If surrender means getting on the winning side, what would it look like in terms of your behavior, if you were to surrender just a bit in this arena?
Step #3. Courage
- Remember a time in which you acted with courage. What did it feel like? Where did you feel it in your body? Can you apply anything from this memory of courage to your present situation?
Step #4. Passionate Non-Attachment
- To take action and to let go of the results of that action is a powerfully freeing practice. How might this practice apply to your situation?
Step #5. Wisdom
- Remember a time when you acted with wisdom. What happened? How did it feel? How might that “evidence” apply to the present situation?
Step #6. Discernment
- Discernment is perception in the absence of judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual direction and understanding. What judgment do you hold toward this person, place or situation? If you peaked beneath the judgment, what might you find?
Remember, friends, life comes to grow us. We do get exactly the right circumstances in order to become more of who we really are. Most importantly, this is a practice, not a one-time event. Give yourself full permission to practice, with patience and tolerance, as you relax around this issue. As usual, please do keep me posted. If I can support you in any way, here I am.
All blessings.
Aruni