Lovingkindness, or metta, is one of the main meditation practices of the Buddhist tradition. It's a practice that involves offering a sense of lovingkindness to oneself and then extending this offering to loved ones, friends, acquaintances, difficult people, and ultimately to all beings everywhere.

Once, when I was teaching a lovingkindness retreat, one of the students told me about the impact this practice had on her life. She said that the entire past year of her life had been filled with a great deal of loss and disappointment. It would have been easy for her to become disconsolate -- except for one thing: her recognition that somewhere in the world somebody was offering lovingkindness to all sentient beings everywhere. By definition, that included her. Somebody somewhere, never having met her, not knowing her situation, not having any personal connection to her, was actually sending her thoughts of lovingkindness. Someone was opening his or her heart and wishing for her happiness, peace, safety, and freedom. This was happening simply by virtue of the fact that she existed; she was a sentient being, and that was enough for her to be a deserving recipient of the force of love. This recognition, she said, was the singular force that had given her the strength to go on, to keep her heart from breaking during difficult times.

How wonderful to know that there is always someone who is dedicating this very moment to generating love and compassion for you and for all beings. Without knowing anything about you, without knowing who you are, not because you are especially nice, not in exchange for any favor or out of obligation, but simply because you exist -- someone right now is deeply wishing you well, wishing for your happiness. If, like the woman on the retreat, we can recognize this, then we realize that we are not isolated in our suffering. No matter what our particular circumstances, we are never completely alone -- we are each receiving this force of beneficence. We can also recognize that when we practice metta, when we offer love and compassion, we are giving a true and powerful gift. Somebody somewhere is very gratefully receiving it.

To Practice This Today: Experience the lovingkindness coming your way from others, especially in moments of suffering or difficulty.