The Loving Kindness (Metta) Retreat (Dharma Seed: Retreat talks) Chris Cullen: Loving Ourselves and Working with the Obstacles
Aug 7, 2010
Chris Cullen, a mindfulness teacher, talks about navigating self-love and overcoming the inner critic through mindfulness practices and Metta phrases. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging goodness and practicing self-blessing in metta practice. Cullen references a quote from Buddha about deserving one's own love and affection.
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Name The Five Hindrances To Reduce Self-Blame
- Recognize the five hindrances (sense desire, aversion, sleepiness, restlessness, doubt) as common visitors rather than personal failures.
- Name which hindrance is present to bring kindly acceptance and reduce self-judgment when they arise.
Galvanize Energy When Sleepiness Hits
- If sleepiness or dullness overwhelms you in practice, galvanize energy with physical adjustments like opening eyes, standing, or visualizing brighter light.
- Use the preciousness of retreat time as a motivating reflection: if not now, when?
Soothe Restlessness By Anchoring And Reframing
- For restlessness, soothe the nervous system by anchoring attention to a non-restless body part or breath and perceive bodily energy as circulating kindness.
- Consciously reframe internal vibration as metta to transform excess energy into nourishment for practice.