Friday: Equality and Family-arity
Another early start, but this morning was a bit easier than Wednesday, I don’t know why though, it was still freezing, but I just jumped out bed and didn’t seem so tired. Reading the morning text, it was one that we had already covered a bit in class. The text was about seeing everyone as equal, even those who are un-virtuous. Yet this morning, just exiting South Yarra station, I saw the homeless lady who is sometimes there, setting up, I did not give her money or stop to chat, I did not treat her as equal and this is something that I should really improve upon.
The meditation today, accepting everyone as though they were your family, thinking it about a orb of light expanding into groups of familiarity. The orb, for we at least started to dim a little at the people you meet day to day level and really struggled to shine at the people from your country level. In class we discussed, why shouldn’t animals be included in the concentric circles of compassion. I feel as though it gets harder and harder to treat someone/something as a close family member or as you become less familiar with them. For example I would treat my cat better than the majority of people or animals in the world, because I am familiar with him and, I would say, close to him.
In the evening text, the take home point is that favors are done from the good of your heart and that you should not expect anything back or to brag about what a good thing you’ve done. Although I do agree with his point, I don’t think you should start giving out large sums of cash to anyone who asks, but consider reasons and situations before giving away charity.

