Week 4 of Bishop Martin’s Wellbeing and Awareness Practice focuses on Recollection: caring for, loving others.
Last week, I suggested bringing into the present moment [recollecting] your own experience of being loved and cared for.
What did you experience in the practice? Here’s a little example from my own practice:
A few days ago, I watched, on YouTube, Stravinsky’s Ballet ‘The Firebird’ with Elspeth. The music and the dancing were indeed beautiful, based on a story of hope and light in the middle of hopelessness and darkness. But what happened as I watched and listened was that the beauty of the Ballet and the power of the music enfolded me in a moment that I can only describe as sublime. I felt cared for and, indeed loved.
The questions I have for you this week are:
- When was an occasion when I loved and cared for someone?
- What were the details of the experience?
- What happened?
- Where was I?
- Who was involved?
- How do I recollect, relive the experience?
- What have I learnt from it?
Remember that loving or caring for someone is dependent on how you are accepting the importance of loving yourself, as well as recollecting those who have and do love and care for you.
Here’s a little story for you:
“What shall I do to love my neighbour?”
The spiritual teacher replied, “Stop hating yourself!”
The disciple pondered these words and then said, “But I love myself too much, for I’m selfish and self-centered. How do I get rid of that?”
The teacher then added, “Be friendly to yourself and your self will be contented and it will set you free to love your neighbour!”
Each of these exercises are given to you in the hope that you will practice them at home, or online with a friend or friends. Children and adults can deepen their relationships through them. If it helps, keep a note of your experiences of the practice.
