Mindfulness For An Overrepresented Yet Underserved Population

When we read stories about mindfulness and meditation we usually hear about how the practice has changed this wonderful persons life in a positive way. These positive stories are very heartwarming and inspirational and most certainly deserving of being shared for all experience. So, please keep them coming.

What I'd like to shift focus on for this posting is that mindfulness is for all, every living being, including the ones we typically overlook. I'm referring to the incarcerated.

The United States leads the world in incarcerated persons with about 2.3 million locked away in prisons and jails. Some for minor infractions, others for major offenses. Most of the incarcerated population consists of men of color. Men of color account for nearly half of the prison population and are imprisoned 4.8 times higher than Caucasians. These statistics were collected from here for you reference.

Too often incarcerated individuals are considered as disposable, less than someone else. After all, they need to repay their 'debt to society'. Maybe. Maybe not. 

Without delving into the myriad reasons resulting in this circumstance there are 2.3 million people in the US that are in need of developing a mindfulness and meditation practice. No one is unworthy. No one is more or less deserving than another.

If you are not familiar with the story of Buddha and Angulimala it will be my pleasure to briefly retell it here.

There lived a robber named Angulimala during Buddhas time. Angulimala lived in the forest and ambushed travelers on the roads and killed them. He never robbed them but he did remove a finger and attached it to a necklace he wore. He had many fingers on this necklace.

Buddha sought him out, unafraid.

Buddha and Angulimala did meet and Angulimala did proceed to try to attack Buddha. Buddha, being who he is, did not retreat but instead shouted 'You, stop!' Angulimala was unable to move upon hearing this command.

Buddha was able to transmit the Dharma to him and Angulimala was then awake. In fact, whenever Buddha talked to anyone, they woke up. Angulimala then repented for his past actions and he asked to be a monk. Buddha shaved his head and accepted him into the sangha immediately.

Here was a man who was so scary in life but yet when approached with nonjudgment, kindness, and compassion he shed his unwholesome ways for one of peace and wholesomeness. This is how we, as mindfulness practitioners, may share and strengthen our practice.

Sharing is a gift. And as with all gift giving there are two recipients, the receiver as well as the giver. When one receives a gift, warm feelings begin to arise. Anger dissipates to be replaced with joy and hopefulness. The giver too feels joy and even a sense of accomplishment. This is a wonderful experience that is shared by both individuals.

So with hearing all of your beautiful stories of self-development if you have the time, as part of your outreach efforts, perhaps you too may share your compassion and empathy with someone that may need it as much as you did. 

 

Wishing you continued peace and wellbeing,

 

Vladimir

 

You are warmly invited to follow on us on Facebook and Instagram at @bluelotuscenter for more ways to improve your mindfulness practice and wellbeing.

Blue Lotus Meditation and Mindfulness Center is a registered 501(c)(3) religious organization.

Website and monthly newsletter: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

For guided meditations and Dharma talks, please visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Facebook

Instagram

How Can Pets Teach Us About Mindfulness

The Mindful Pet Owner

A lot of us had pets as kids. And even now as adults some of us still do. We enjoy their company. Wagging tails after a long day at work. A furry face sitting on your chest in the morning saying 'feed me, I'm hungry'. Or just sitting on the couch watching TV or reading a book with your companion on your lap.

As children we learned that our beloved friend needs us to feed them, take them outside, play with, housebreaking, and to provide them with the love and security that all living beings need.

When we were sick they provided us comfort. When they were sick we lovingly reciprocated. When we cried they offered us comfort. When they cried we offered them comfort. 

And they certainly made us laugh when they acted silly.

When they were afraid, we offered them solace and refuge. If they used the floor as their restroom, we cleaned it up, perhaps we got a little angry with them (or ourselves) but that soon dissipated.

All of these actions were how we learned love, compassion, empathy, and patience for living beings. These are the seeds of mindfulness that enable us to also offer compassion and empathy towards all loving being.

So how can we use what we have learned from our pets and translate those considerations to people, including ourselves?

All sentient beings have emotions. When our pet experienced sadness we didn't minimize that feeling. We offered them reassurance and love.

When any person feels sadness why should we treat them any differently? We may hear from someone justifying their sentiments with 'Oh, I told you they were trouble'!

When we see a stray animal on the street we immediately offer it food. 

Why should we treat a person differently? Some may justify not doing so by thinking 'They must be on drugs or an alcoholic'!

If an animal needs a new home we go to a shelter and offer them ours.

Why should we treat a person differently? (Oh, they are from a poor country and will steal our jobs and bring disease).

Use what you have learned with your beloved and precious pet and offer the same compassion, love, and empathy to people, including yourself.

When you do, the world changes. You change. You become more connected with yourself, others, and the entire world.

Sadly, they too are very often the ones who teach us a final and very precious lesson, death. If you had a pet as a child that you grew up with you experienced what happens to a body as it ages and then succumbs to passing. 

When this happens, we experience loss for the first time and it is difficult. But we learn to accept that death is a natural part of life, just as much as birth is.

Every living being you encounter will die and as mindfulness practitioners we can carry this reverence for life into all we do.

Pets do offer us a wonderful opportunity to truly develop our mindfulness practice.  

Wishing you peace and ease,

Vladimir

If you find our posts uplifting and positive, please feel free to follow on us on Facebook and Instagram @bluelotuscenter

Blue Lotus Meditation and Mindfulness Center is a registered 501(c)(3) religious organization.