Do You Have A Cat?

We did a practice recently using a moment when we were the caring figure for another in order to access the qualities of kindness, love, and compassion that are already present in each of us. During the conversation after the meditation, one of our group mentioned that they were having trouble bringing to mind a “good enough” moment when they were caring for another, and then thought, “Oh, my cat!”

She was able to recall the affection and care she has given her cat from the first moment the cat came into her life. So simple a connection; just unconditional love and care for another being. And so easy to recall. It doesn’t have to be any harder than that.

In these Benefactor or Caring Moment practices, we can often get stuck trying to find the perfect person to bring to mind or to find the perfect moment when we were “really” caring for another without any other agenda. Reality check: Nothing is perfect and there is almost always another agenda. So, how do we approach the practice in a way that is easy to access, knowing that it can never be “perfect.”

Our teacher’s instruction in the practice is to recall a specific moment that makes you happy to recall. We are looking for the experience and the feelings present in that moment of connection. Then we can actually drop the image of that memory and rest in the field of loving care and compassionate feelings that are present in this moment.

We don’t need to analyze the life of the benefactor to make sure they have never said a harsh word to us. We don’t need to make sure that the caring moment is the best or most real caring moment ever. Does it make you happy to recall? Do you feel a connection in that moment? Do you have a cat?

It doesn’t have to be harder than that.

Can you remember a moment in your life when you were happy? Recall that now.

Can you recall a friend who was there for you when you needed them to be? Bring them to mind.

Have you ever felt supported by someone, trusted by someone, or seen as competent by someone? Remember how you felt in that moment.

Have you ever seen a small child stumble and, automatically, you went to them to help them up? That is a caring moment. Feel the compassion you had for the child who is hurt.

Do you have a cat (or a dog, etc.)? Hold your pet and feel the care you are giving this being that is totally dependent on you for survival.

It doesn’t have to be any harder than that and we can recall these moments and that field of care many times during our day to reconnect with those core values. Short practices, many times repeated.