Squiggle & Heart, No. 31

I’ve been thinking a lot about the expression “My heart goes out to _____” lately. Contrary to the more sentimental version in the cartoon below, I’ve been thinking about it in regards to people with whom I disagree with, sometimes in dramatic ways. I think about sending it to people who cause tremendous harm, violence, war, and unrest, in the theory that they are inevitably doing so out of delusion, suffering, and pain.

As infuriated as I am made by the humans causing unconscionable death and destruction right now, Buddhist instruction suggests that we include them in our Metta meditation - a formalized practice of wellwishing. The belief is if they were truly happy, truly at peace, they would not engage in such Wrong Action. So we sit, bring them to mind, wish them well and - I envision - send our hearts out to them, along with those who suffer at their hands. Tiny, powerful envoys, all over the globe, heading out in all directions.

But, listen. It’s a hell of a lot easier to do it for someone you love. So start there.