METTA, KARUNA, AHIMSA. 1

One of my recent practices has been to attempt to regenerate these three traits, due to recognizing that I was losing hold of my progress concerning them. I find it easier to grow these attributes when it concerns birdlife and bugs, than I do when in contact with humans. Whereas I remain harmless intentionally, and generally get upset if I accidentally flush a cockroach or cricket to their death if careless when washing up, I sometimes get careless in my attitude toward ants and humans.

I like to spend a little time just watching the birds in my yard. This tends to help me relax and regenerate my progress. If I observe the way a dove or pigeon softly bends the grass beneath their tiny toes as they walk across the lawn, it reinforces my rejection of eating poultry or eggs, and it floods my heart with the positive traits that I might otherwise lose grasp of. When dealing with humanity, I find it hard to retain my levels of metta at times - with the heartless demands, unaware expectations, and legal rigmarole - all so unnatural.

On page 92 of the Acariya Mun biography I found a paragraph to help me. "Much like rain, falling evenly over hills and valleys alike."

I should attempt to use this attitude to retain my equanimity, perhaps. I need to learn to retain purity and strength, rather than let the superficial and artificial distort me into making preferences.