Blue petal of compassion

To preserve openness of heart and calmness of mind, nurture these attitudes:
 Kindness to those who are happy,
Compassion for those who are less fortunate,
Honor for those who embody noble qualities &
Equanimity to those whose actions oppose your values.
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​Continuing our journey through the various states of mind that we can intentionally cultivate, we come to the blue petal in the Southwest this week. 

This blue petal invites us to rest our mind in benevolence and impartiality. 
 
In contemplating this petal, I am reminded of the encouragement of the yoga sutras in the attitudes that are most helpful to us on the path of yoga. 

Sutra 1.33 offers:
I. 33 To preserve openness of heart and calmness of mind, nurture these attitudes:
 Kindness to those who are happy
Compassion for those who are less fortunate
Honor for those who embody noble qualities
Equanimity to those whose actions oppose your values.
Devi, Nischala Joy. The Secret Power of Yoga: A Woman's Guide to the Heart and Spirit of the Yoga Sutras (p. 77). Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony. Kindle Edition.
 
To me, the blue petal of benevolence embraces all of these mental states.  When we are benevolent and impartial we are encouraged to be kind, and to take joy in the happiness of others.  We are also encouraged to be compassionate, to have the desire to alleviate the suffering of others.  I also like the reminder to identify our role models and encourage each other to be our best versions of ourselves.  The final attitude is the attitude of impartiality, to acknowledge our differences without letting these differences disturb our own calm and groundedness in what we value.
 
 
 

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