I found a robin’s egg laid on a white rock near the front door. Assuming that the rock was not a nest, i brought the egg indoors and laid it in the Buddha’s sheltering hands.
How often when we “lay an egg” in public, do we cringe, self-judge, or feel guilty? These feelings are the clue that it’s time to practice lovingkindness toward ourselves.
When i flop, when i say something i wish i hadn’t–that’s when i use forgiveness meditation. “I forgive myself for not understanding….” I repeat this phrase several times a minute, maybe for the length of a 20″ sit.
If i can forgive myself, i may notice that the robin instantly forgave herself. The robin forgives me. And so does the Buddha.