in my head

[sabrinamari]

many of the prayers, songs and chants that I am learning on Thursday nights
pray for the end of the suffering of all beings or ask that through one's connections,
one contribute to the cessation of pain, and the realization of the root causes of pain,
among all beings, that one contribute to what is basically the greatest good for all
beings

they often start with "all you sentient beings I have a good or bad connection with..."

I lately move through parts of my days with the song version of this chant wandering
through my head, "may all you seeeentient beings...I have a good or bad conneeeection with...

Thursday someone told a story, i don't remember if it was Pema or Ane Trime, about people
in Tibet throwing stones at a monk, or nun, or teacher of some kind, if they could not establish a
more positive connection with them. they did this because a bad connection is considered
better than no connection, and that in Buddhist thought, the quality and kind of the connection
is less significant than the fact that it exists. having it creates opportunity for mutual good to
flow through it for both parties. and so prayers are said for everyone with whom one has a
connection, a good or bad connection.

it is a very different kind of approach to relationships.

i am thinking about it.

in the meantime, may all you sentient beings i have a good or bad relationship with
be free from suffering and all forms of suffering.