NOTE: By way of an explanation for the Spanish words I may use herein it may help to know that my son and I speak almost exclusively in Spanish and Italian to one another. I felt the need to use the untranslated terms because I feel they carry more emmotional weight for me, personally. I hope you will indulge me.
This morning, on the way to school, my son related to me an event that took place earlier in the week at the park where an older boy had threatened he and his friends with physical harm. Of course we talked about what things he needed to do in the future should such situations arise (I.e., tell a parent) but we also talked how to hold the event in your heart and how to deal with those feelings. His responses were refreshing and surprising not only for their honesty but because they betrayed a real understanding of the Dhamma that I thought him too young for.
As I explained to him that we shouldn’t hold onto anger or resentment for people when they say or do things to hurt us he immediately expressed his opinion that people who act in these ways “va a sufrir” (will suffer) as a result. What’s more, he quickly interjected that he wasn’t angry or even afraid of the boy but that he was sad when he heard the threats. I have to admit my surprise because tristeza wouldn’t have been my first reaction-I would have immediately been angry and afraid. Still, his reply gave. Me the opportunity reflect on the fact that sadness along with fear and anger were all garbage that needed to be cleared out of the heart.
It was at this point where I said to him that it was important that he forgive (perdonarlo) in order to take care of himself and if he still felt sad to send himself metta and karuna to himself in silence. Such good advice and such a good student-I only hope to be as a good a study as my five year old and remember to purify my heart with each moment.
Che tutti siano felici!
Cattāri Brahmavihārā 