Cattāri Brahmavihārā

It is rarely easy living with others. Whether they are family, friends, colleagues or random strangers, it can be exceedingly difficult to face disdain and contempt without succumbing to it ourselves.

Call it luck or just my kamma, but I’m back in the situation that I have been for years with a wife who’s so full of resentment and disdain that it is painful and pitiable to see. But, I’m not here to talk about that or disparage her. I’m get to write about my aspiration to meet hatred with love, cruelty with kindness an, thanks to all of the difficult people in my life, I feel that I’m getting closer to it every day.

I give thanks to the people who hate and resent me l, to those who mistreat me and who test my patience; without them, I would be lost in a world of illusory comfort.

May I always learn from difficult people and those who would do me harm and may I cultivate karuna for them as a way to pay their teaching fee.