On the night of the full moon, we gather to open our hearts and minds through meditation and reflection. We begin with a few moments of silent meditation, allowing ourselves to let go of any lingering stress from the day. This helps us relax our minds and cultivate a sense of openness and receptivity, simply enjoying the presence of being together.

Next, we continue our meditation with a walking meditation. On the full moon, walking meditation includes chanting. We circumambulate while chanting and paying homage to the Bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara. In Buddhism, the enlightened energy of compassion is embodied by Avalokiteshvara, the one who hears the cries of the world.

When we chant this name, we are not merely reciting a mantra—we are actively connecting with the energy of compassion and love. By calling upon this energy, we invite it into ourselves as individuals and into the world, which so desperately needs kindness and compassion. As we chant, we visualize this energy entering us and extending outward, bringing healing to ourselves and all beings.

As human beings living in today’s world, and as Buddhist practitioners, we face two significant challenges. The first challenge is cultivating a heart-mind that embodies loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. The second challenge is maintaining this open-heartedness in a society that seems increasingly inhospitable to love and compassion.

We live in a time where anger, hatred, divisiveness, and harmful speech are widespread. This makes it even more essential that each of us takes personal responsibility to cultivate and maintain an open heart. As we go about our daily lives, our relationships—with ourselves, our families, and the broader world—should be infused with this commitment to love and understanding.

This is the challenge of our time. While the teachings and meditative practices of Buddhism support us in this effort, we must approach our practice with strong intentionality. I am reminded of a poem by Thich Nhat Hanh, written during the Vietnam War. Though I cannot recall the exact words, the essence of his message was clear: even as bombs fall, even as we are maligned, we must never lose the heart of love and understanding.

Hatred is our enemy, not other people. Divisiveness is our enemy. If we cannot maintain a loving and compassionate heart in our intimate, everyday relationships—with ourselves, our families, and those we work with—it will be exceedingly difficult to extend that same love and understanding to strangers. Thus, our practice must begin in the most personal and immediate ways, and from there, it can expand outward.

For many, this practice may feel unfamiliar, forced, or artificial at first. That is completely natural. We must start somewhere, and any initial awkwardness arises only because we are not yet accustomed to it. Over time, with persistence and dedication, this practice will become our natural state of mind. Just as many of us do not need to try to feel anger, resentment, or judgment—because these emotions have been reinforced through habitual practice—we can train our hearts to naturally incline toward love and compassion.

The foundation of this practice is simple: having the same wishes for others that we have for ourselves. Almost every human being desires happiness, safety, and freedom from suffering. Rarely does anyone truly wish to suffer. Once we recognize this fundamental commonality, we can begin expanding our love beyond just ourselves and our close circle, extending it to all beings everywhere.

This practice must be ongoing, something we nurture continuously. Let us now take a moment to close our eyes and engage in this meditation together.

We begin by focusing on ourselves. Take a deep breath and say to yourself, with sincerity, May I be happy. Do not merely say the words—truly feel the intention behind them. I want to be happy. I want to create the causes necessary for happiness in my life.

Now, say to yourself, May I be free of suffering. Again, mean it deeply. I want to support only those things in my life that bring an end to suffering. I want to let go of things that contribute to my suffering. As you repeat these phrases, you may become aware of actions, thoughts, or habits that either support or hinder your well-being. Allow yourself to acknowledge them without judgment.

Next, bring to mind someone in your close circle—a family member, a dear friend, or a mentor. Imagine them standing or sitting before you. See them clearly. Now, offer them the same wishes: May you be happy. May you be free of suffering. Feel the warmth of this message extending to them.

Now, extend your meditation further. Think of someone who is an acquaintance—perhaps a colleague, a neighbor, or someone you see regularly but do not know well. Picture them in front of you, and offer the same loving wishes: May you be happy. May you be free of suffering.

As we continue, let us expand even further. Bring to mind someone neutral—a person you neither like nor dislike. It could be a passerby you see on your way to work, a store clerk, or someone else who exists in your periphery. Imagine them before you and say with genuine intent: May you be happy. May you be free of suffering.

And now, we come to the most challenging part. Bring to mind someone you struggle with—someone with whom you have tension, resentment, or difficulty. This may not be easy, but see if you can look beyond those emotions to recognize that they, too, desire happiness and an end to suffering. Even if it feels difficult, try to send them this wish: May you be happy. May you be free of suffering.

Finally, imagine all of these individuals together—yourself, your loved ones, acquaintances, neutral individuals, and even those with whom you have difficulties. Can you send loving-kindness to all of them at once? Can you extend this compassion even further, to all beings in the world?

Let your love radiate outward, like the sun shining upon everything equally. Feel your heart opening as you send these wishes out into the world: May all beings be happy. May all beings be safe. May all beings be free of suffering.

Take a few more moments to rest in this state of loving awareness. Then, when you feel ready, gently bring your focus back to the present moment. Open your eyes when you are ready, carrying this intention of love and kindness with you as you move forward.

Thank you for sharing this practice on the full moon together with all of us. May we all continue to cultivate compassion and bring its light into the world.