🌀

there is a practice from the Buddhist tradition, i practice daily. it is called “dedication of merit” & generally takes place after a session or period of practice. i find it so beautiful, embodying the heart of practice – to relieve suffering (ours & others) – & a good way to maintain perspective that we are all in this together. there are many versions of dedicating merit, w/ different traditional phrases used. the one that most resonates w/ me, i learned from Dharma Moon, during my Mindfulness Teacher Training & Metta Meditation Teacher Training programs w/ them (the 2 Year -Year Long Buddhist Studies program they offer used a different phrase/verse). the one used with the teacher trainings incorporates the Four Brahmaviharas (also called the Heavenly or Divine Abodes, & Sublime States). they are wonderfully beneficial to work w/ in any case, but really capture the state of mind i feel when dedicating merit. the Four Brahmaviharas are: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, & equanimity. these qualities or virtues are meant to be practiced at all times, to nurture a mind-state that is free of selfishness & hatred. when used in dedication of merit, it may remind us of metta or loving kindness meditation’s traditional verses. there is a line recited for each of the Four Brahmaviharas. it’s important to note that dedicating the merit – or the benefit – of our practice whether it be our meditation, prayers, our work, or play is something we all can do no matter our religious, spiritual, or secular background or current tradition. in short – you don’t have to be Buddhist to practice it! it’s simply a way of wishing others benefit from the goodness, the love, the light, we cultivate in our practice. 

i’ve shared here, the version i adopted from Dharma Moon, & then revised for my own particular tastes, & currently use – however, you may want to look up other verses used as well, or write your own to make it more personal & powerful for you if you choose to implement in your practice.

~j

⭕️♥️🙏🏼

#DedicationOfMerit #OpenHeart #practice #JinpaLhaga #JMWart