Halcyeus
New member
I'd like to start a discussion, if possible, about four emotions and how they play out in our polyamorous relationships. In Buddhism these four emotions are treated as especially important, though they are in no way unique to Buddhism.
Witnessing these four emotions is fulfilling to say the least. They can be fulfilling in ways many of the things we strive so hard to achieve can never be. They are often described as boundless because the depth and breadth of them can be truly astounding. When they're present life is rich with love. Since polyamory involves loving more than one partner they are also enormously relevant to polyamory. The extent to which they are felt greatly increases how rewarding relationships can be. They can also overcome the negative emotions that can become problematic such as jealousy, rage, resentment, fear and loneliness.
With regular meditation they may arise spontaneously. On occasion they can come on fiercely and boldly, like a dam breaking as the inhibitions to them snap under building pressure exerted by the heart. More often they increase slowly and gently, spreading out and enveloping what you perceive. This is beneficial since how you feel colors the world. Without the brahmaviharas the terrible things in the world bring on hopelessness, whereas the wonderful things in the world can be overlooked.
As well as resulting from regular meditation they can be increased through changes in habits. Deliberately focusing on these emotions as an exercise and expressing them will increase their occurrence and strength. Although one does not express equanimity as such, it is indirectly expressed by deliberately calming down and letting go of being upset or overexcited.
Any thoughts or questions about the above?
Have you seen these feelings play out in your relationships, or attitudes towards relationships?
Have there been times, looking back, when you lacked them at times when they could have helped?
How does romantic love, or wanting to be loved, relate to or differ from these feelings?
- Loving-kindness : Wishing for all beings, in general, to be happy
- Compassion : Wishing for all beings, in general, to be free of suffering
- Empathic Joy : Joy from seeing the happiness and accomplishments of others
- Equanimity : Detached acceptance of the good and bad in life, without losing balance or becoming overwhelmed
Witnessing these four emotions is fulfilling to say the least. They can be fulfilling in ways many of the things we strive so hard to achieve can never be. They are often described as boundless because the depth and breadth of them can be truly astounding. When they're present life is rich with love. Since polyamory involves loving more than one partner they are also enormously relevant to polyamory. The extent to which they are felt greatly increases how rewarding relationships can be. They can also overcome the negative emotions that can become problematic such as jealousy, rage, resentment, fear and loneliness.
With regular meditation they may arise spontaneously. On occasion they can come on fiercely and boldly, like a dam breaking as the inhibitions to them snap under building pressure exerted by the heart. More often they increase slowly and gently, spreading out and enveloping what you perceive. This is beneficial since how you feel colors the world. Without the brahmaviharas the terrible things in the world bring on hopelessness, whereas the wonderful things in the world can be overlooked.
As well as resulting from regular meditation they can be increased through changes in habits. Deliberately focusing on these emotions as an exercise and expressing them will increase their occurrence and strength. Although one does not express equanimity as such, it is indirectly expressed by deliberately calming down and letting go of being upset or overexcited.
Any thoughts or questions about the above?
Have you seen these feelings play out in your relationships, or attitudes towards relationships?
Have there been times, looking back, when you lacked them at times when they could have helped?
How does romantic love, or wanting to be loved, relate to or differ from these feelings?