bodhi tree swaying

We had a good class in prison today. Rich was talking about how much the practice of metta bhavana and an awareness of Buddhanature had changed his life. I shared how I’ve become substantially less critical through the practice of metta, and said that although an awareness had had a profound effect at times on how I’ve seen myself, I don’t think it’s penetrated very deeply (he thought the same about himself). I find that sometimes I still get frustrated by people’s actions and judge them not on their potential but on how they behave.

I contrasted this with how I view my daughter. She may sometimes have tantrums or in an attempt to play she’ll throw food or utensils around the kitchen, but I don’t get angry with her. I take the view that she’s still growing up, and that this is just how she is at the moment. …