RIGHT INTENTION
Cultivating Lovingkindness
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Whatever you intend,
whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will
become the basis on which your mind is established. (SN 12.40) Develop
meditation on lovingkindness, for when you develop meditation on
lovingkindness, all ill will is abandoned. (MN 62)
Lovingkindness succeeds when it makes ill will subside. (Vm 9.93)
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Ill will is a
generic term for all kinds of aversion, from mild annoyance to raging
hatred. These emotions make up a good deal of our daily experience, and
generally we are not too happy when we are aversive. The danger is that
if we allow these states to persist and even grow, we are ensuring that
our minds will become more inclined toward them. On the other hand,
developing lovingkindness will incline the mind in the other direction.
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It may feel
like you have no protection against ill will, but you do. Lovingkindness
is its antidote, and it can be applied at any time. Because we cannot
experience two emotions at the exact same time, all healthy states will
block out all unhealthy states and vice versa. Try dosing yourself with
kindness every time you feel annoyed and see what happens. Any aversion
you might feel will immediately subside.
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Tomorrow: Refraining from False Speech
One week from today: Cultivating Compassion
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