When you give compassionately, you receive the gift of happiness. The Buddhists believe in metta bhavana, a feeling of immeasurable loving-kindness towards all living beings. Like colour dropped into a glass of clear water, metta bhavana colours and permeates your whole life with the joy of all beings. In systems like pranic healing or reiki or even in organised religions, one prays for the peace and happiness of all beings in the universe. This can be an unending source of joy.
Sharing, helping each other and cultivating strong social relationships keep us healthy and contribute to a peaceful life. The rasa of compassion is a great source of creating a positive mental state and fortifying the body’s immune system as it taps into the feel-good chemicals in the body.
Studies have shown that those with eight to six close relationships were healthier than those with less than four. It is this feeling that promotes altruism and the many service clubs in the world. We need social relationships to truly thrive. Social networks can help us change our health activities. Laughter Club, Alcoholics Anonymous (the Twelve-step programme), Weight Watchers International, regular dance and exercise groups are examples.
Pets in cancer wards have been found to improve healing and reduce the negative response to chemotherapy.
We need social relationships to be methodically developed to promote compassion and mutual empathy.
Action Plan for Welcoming Karuna into Your Life
• Take up a sport.
• Take up a hobby.
• Become a volunteer.
• Join your local community association.
• Get involved in your spiritual community.
• Reach out for someone today.
• Plug into the healing web of relationships.
• Establish a family assembly.
• Develop family traditions.
• Eat together.
• Give your child a hug.
• Join or establish self-help groups. www.selfhelpweb.org.
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