Hi all,

Happy Summer! This week I have posted a new article on the Brahmaviharas or Four Immeasurables. Truly, the world needs us to center our practice in the cultivation of these qualities now more than ever:

The Brahmaviharas or Four Immeasurables
The four beneficient qualities of lovingkindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity are referred to as the Brahmaviahras or Four Immeasurables in Buddhism, and cultivating them lays the foundation for awakened mind.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art180919.asp

This month I also updated and reposted two articles on the Noble Eightfold Path - one an introduction, and one some ideas for introducing children to the eight aspects in daily life:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33509.asp

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art171535.asp

I hope you enjoy these! I also wanted to mention that I will be talking about women's energetics tonight on the Life Potentials internet radio show with Diantha Harris at 5pm PST, 8pm EST. You can also listen later by recording if you can't listen live:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/within-radio/2013/06/28/life-potentials

Also, my next teleseminar on Healing the Subtle Body Wounds of Sexual Abuse and Trauma begins soon, more information here:

http://mommymystic.wordpress.com/womens-energetics/sacral-chakra-teleseminar/

In closing, I'd like to include the long version of the Four Immeasurables prayer (the short version is included in the article above):

How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings were to abide in equanimity,
Free of hatred and attachment!
May they abide in equanimity!
I myself will cause them to abide in equanimity!
Please, guru-Buddha, grant me blessings to be able to do this.

How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings had happiness and the cause of happiness!
May they have happiness and its cause!
I shall cause them to have these!
Please, guru-Buddha, grant me blessings to be able to do this.

How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings were free of suffering and its cause!
May they be free of suffering and its cause!
I myself will free them from suffering and its cause!
Please, guru-Buddha, grant me blessings to be able to do this.

How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings were never separated from the happiness of higher rebirth and liberation!
May they never separated from the happiness of higher rebirth and liberation!
I myself will cause them never to be separated from these!
Please, guru-Buddha, grant me blessings to be able to do this.

In Peace,

Lisa Erickson, Buddhism Editor
http://buddhism.bellaonline.com

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