Unit 8

The two practices that I find most beneficial are Loving-Kindness and the Subtle Mind. I have found that I will sometimes utilize these practices during my daily routines. As I continue to practice and better understand the nature of them I am able to draw upon them for mini episodes.
The other day I was sent a jury duty summons. If anyone is familiar with this process, then you know how it operates. For those who don't know, I am expected to appear for the opportunity of being selected for jury duty. There were many different people also sent a summons and the vibe was mostly negative. People were conversing among each other about their inconvenience or rustling around huffing and puffing. 

This was a perfect opportunity for me to close my eyes and practice breathing and visualization. I started with loving-kindness. I breathed in everyone's frustrations and exhaled love and compassion. I could feel the tingling in my body every time I breathed and imagined the positive energy flowing out. I helped relax my inner self and avoid engaging in negative thoughts.

I also utilized the subtle mind practice to visualize the thought process of those people who were frustrated, including myself initially. Why I/they would allow being "caught up" in the moment. I was not looking forward to appearing for jury duty, but I review the process of why. Initially jury duty has a stigma to it and once you see the form in the mail, you immediately cringe. You think of losses: time, money, work, assignments... The glass is automatically half empty. So reviewing the situation as a civic duty- a responsibility; I empty negative thoughts and create positive ones. I bring an understanding that it is simply part of being in a great nation. Since it is not intended to be a hardship, if it becomes one then we are supposed to inform the judge. I simply stated the facts and was discharged from the selection. No worries.