One of the most important realizations that came to me after starting to meditate ( and is still developing) was a more conscious understanding of one of the central Buddhist teachings, that of interconnectedness. I have naturally it seems had a sense of community since a child, and a desire to act in the world in some positive way. Meditation on the Dharma, the teachings of interconnectedness and the practise of Metta Bhavana have all returned me to the world with a clearer sense on a literal practical level of how much we depend on each other for our daily existence. The Metta Bhavana, a practise of developing and understanding positive communication, emotions and relationship with ourselves and others, breaks down the isolation we can feel in this world. The experience of metta is an opening of the heart to self and other in a radical way, a knowing of this truth that we are in all this together.
Our modern western world teaches us the opposite, that we are individuals, that there is no natural society , that we need to look out for our self, but this way of thinking and acting does not lead to happiness or contentment or peace.
Just a short reflection on how many people in the world are involved in the production of your tea or coffee is quite staggering. We rely on so many people to do their jobs in order for us to live.
And any of those beautiful images of the earth from space shows us that we are all living on the same planet.
Meditating and reflecting on this for ourselves allows us to be in the world with a much greater sense of harmony and gratitude. we feel more connected to the world and others and this experience of gratitude and being connected research now shows, makes us happier and healthier.
