There is a style of meditation that could have come straight from the pages of fantasy.
It’s the closest thing to magic that Muggles have.
And, in the world beyond Diagon Alley, it is the fuel for the most powerful magic there is.
It keeps people safe from things that should harm them. It even blocks unblockable spells – the ultimate power.
Of course, I am talking about love.
But not just any love. After all, that is an emotion that is felt throughout the human species. If all a wizard needed was to feel something, everyone could use it.
However, in the books, love-based magic is ancient and mysterious.
Intriguing, huh?
And what does this have to do with meditation?
There is a style of meditation called metta, also known as loving-kindness meditation. As the name suggests, you reflect on love. Not greedy love or possessive love, but kind love.
It is a pure and healthy emotion.
Most people feel this sometimes. There are those who in your life invoke something deeper than infatuation or admiration. We call these people our soulmates or brother / sister. And since we know that words can’t convey it, we put a lot of energy into the label.
There are “brothers” and then there are brothers.
You can practice this state of mind. Like any other thought, it grows stronger with time and attention.
It’s easy to start with the people who inspire you to feel this way about them.
Then you go to people who know but don’t think much. When you practice loving-kindness towards them, you free yourself from the barriers that you put up towards other people.
Once you can do that, you practice with strangers. Think of unknown people in distant lands that you will never meet. When you experience loving-kindness for a person who is both an idea and a reality, it opens you up even more.
Then the final stage. Feeling love and kindness towards your enemies. Sincerely wishing the best to people, even those who have wronged you.
Now some people take offense at this idea. There are people who have done horrible and unforgivable things. They think that wishing them love and kindness downplays all the bad things they did.
Except, I assure you, it isn’t.
This is not to say that what they did was right. It is not about welcoming cruel and evil people into your life.
You forgive them for you, not for them. If they are the type of people who take advantage of that, you will never be able to let them know. Wish them love and kindness in the privacy of your thoughts.
This makes you strong.
Impossibly strong.
Because when you can forgive someone even when you cut them out of your life, you release their power over you.
It makes you numb to the little things other people can do. Would you even notice a moment of rudeness on the part of a stranger if you are capable of such compassion?
A weak person curses his enemies. A strong person never again wastes a thought or emotion on them.
