Cultivating Boundless Love

In government, business, civil society, and our individual lives

On January 22, 2025, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D. C., called on our country’s leaders to “have mercy” on people who are “scared now” including families with LGBTQ+ members and immigrants.

Budde's plea mentioned “gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families,” across the country “who fear for their lives.” The bishop also spoke up for immigrant workers, including those who may not “have the proper documentation,” saying the vast majority of them are “not criminals” but rather “good neighbors.”

And this month, Pope Francis said that deporting people — who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, exploitation and persecution — "damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness."

Let us call on all people everywhere to have mercy on the hungry, the homeless, the poor, the elderly, the children, the sick, the vulnerable, the weak, the voiceless, the powerless, the stereotyped, the disabled, the minorities, the undocumented, and the uneducated. They are our neighbors and our families.

Let us each awaken to understanding and compassion. May those, including billionaires and millionaires, who are driven by greed become generous to all. May those, including religious fundamentalists and misogynists, who are driven by pride become humble before all. May those, including racists, who are driven by hatred become kind to all.

May those, including nationalists, who are driven by fear become understanding of all. May those, including climate change deniers, who are driven by misinformation become observant of facts and scientific evidence. May those who are driven by anger become loving of all. And may those who are driven to violence become peaceful with all.

May we each practice boundless love moment by moment for ourselves and for all beings everywhere. This includes those with whom we disagree, those who wish to harm others, and those who may be harmed.

Today, Dr. Peggy Rowe-Ward, co-founder of The Lotus Institute, led a beautiful online “Brave Hearts” meditation which included the inspiring words below from the “Discourse on Love” translated by Thich Nhat Hanh:

“May everyone be happy and safe, and may their hearts be filled with joy.

“May all living beings live in Security and in Peace — beings who are frail or strong, tall or short, big or small, visible or not visible, near or far away, already born or yet to be born. May all of them dwell in perfect tranquility.

“Let no one do harm to anyone. Let no one put the life of anyone in danger. Let no one, out of anger or ill will, wish anyone any harm.

“Just as a mother loves and protects her only child at the risk of her own life, we should cultivate Boundless Love to offer to all living beings in the entire cosmos. We should let our boundless love pervade the whole universe, above, below and across.

“Our love will know no obstacles, our heart will be absolutely free from hatred and enmity. Whether standing or walking, sitting or lying, as long as we are awake, we should maintain this mindfulness of love in our own heart. This is the noblest way of living.

“Free from wrong views, greed and sensual desires, living in beauty and realizing Perfect Understanding, those who practice Boundless Love will certainly transcend Birth and Death.”

In these difficult times, please take good care of yourself, dear friend. We can care for ourselves so that we can care for all beings everywhere.

Please rest, relax, listen to music (I have been listening to Rachmaninoff and Mozart), walk in nature, practice mindful breathing, spend time with family and friends, call or write your representatives, write an Op Ed, speak to your neighbors, and care for the vulnerable near at hand and around this living Earth of which we are part.

May it be so.