Seven point cause and effect

Meditation

2 - Recalling the kindness of others

When you have fully experienced this truth, contemplate the kindness which living beings have shown you when they were your mother. Visualise the lamas and gods before you, and imagine clearly your mother of this life, when she was young and as she grew old. "Not only is she my mother this life, but she has cared for me for lives beyond number. In this lifetime, she lovingly sheltered me in her womb, and when I was born she lovingly put me on soft pillows and cradled me in her arms. She held me to the warmth of her breasts, and suckled me with her sweet milk. She welcomed me with loving smiles and looked at me with happy eyes. She cleaned my snotty nose and wiped away my excrement. My slightest ailment gave her worse misery than the thought of losing her own life. Scorning all affliction, torments, and abuse, not considering herself at all, she provided me as she could with food and shelter. She gave me infinite happiness and benefit, and protected me from measureless misery and harm." Contemplate her very great kindness. Then, in the same way contemplate the kindness of your father and others close to you, for they have also been your mother countless times.

When you have fully experienced this truth, meditate on beings toward whom you feel impartial. "Though it now seems that they have no relationship to me, they have been my mother times beyond number, and in those lives they protected me with love and kindness." When you have experienced this truth, meditate on those beings who are now your adversaries. imagine them clearly in front of you, and think: "How can I now feel that these are my enemies? As lifetimes are beyond number, they have been my mother countless times. When they were my mother they provided me with measureless happiness and benefits and protected me from misery and harm. Without them I could not have lasted even a short time and without me they could not have endured even a short time. We have felt such strong attachment countless times. That they are now my adversaries is due to bad evolutionary actions. At another time in the future they will again be my mother who protects me with love." When you have fully experienced this truth, meditate on the kindness of all beings.