A Meditation on World Hunger for Greater Compassion
Raise your awareness of worldwide hunger and poverty, and develop greater compassion for other people and yourself with this meditation
As the global financial crisis drags on, more people around the world, especially those from developing countries, are being driven to poverty. The World Bank estimated that some 50 million people from poor countries, particularly women and children, are affected by the worst recession in decades.
Although there are signs that the world economy is stabilizing, “no one knows how long it (the financial crisis) will last or when recovery will begin”, said Bank President Robert Zoellick.
For those of us, including myself, who have never experienced real poverty, it is hard to imagine how it feels like to live in a slum without basic necessities or to go hungry for most of the week. Here is a meditation to help you develop greater compassion for the plight of these people. It will also help you to better appreciate the things that you already have and gives you insights on what you can do to help those in need. By generating greater compassion for others, you’ll also gradually soften the harsh inner critic within you and develop more compassion for yourself.
I suggest you meditate an hour or half hour before your meal, depending on how long you sit. The feeling of some hunger will help you to deepen your understanding of the sufferings of other people.
Meditation on World Hunger
-
Sit comfortably and direct your attention to your breath. Take a few slow, deep breaths to relax.
-
Now reflect on the fact that everyone in this planet seeks happiness and avoids suffering, even though the means taken may be different. You are no different from the person living next door and neither are you any different from someone living in Rwanda, China or India. All of us are equal despite our external differences.
-
Consider the basic need for food. Everyone feels hungry several times a day, regardless of your social status, skin color, educational level and the language you speak. Turn your attention to your own hunger. How does it feel like? Do you hear your stomach rumbling and feel your body craving for food to end the hunger?
-
Reflect on how you have wasted food and taken food for granted in the past. Visualize the food that you have mindlessly thrown out while many people are going hungry without proper meals. Say to yourself, “From now on, I will not waste anymore food.”
-
Now imagine feeling this hunger several times a day on a daily basis. Reflect for some moments how it will feel like to be in a state of perpetual hunger and constant craving for food.
-
Now expand your circle of contemplation. Contemplate the widespread hunger experienced not by one, but millions of people right now. Develop compassion for these hungry people by feeling the unbearable hunger they are going through each day. Compare this to the brief hunger you are feeling now. Do you feel how lucky you are? From the appreciation of what you have, make a resolution to help other people: “No one should go without food; I shall endeavor to end world hunger.”
-
Contemplate on “What can I do to end hunger and poverty?” Pose this question to yourself and remain silent for a minute or two for answers to raise up in your mind.
-
To end this session, reach within your compassion and wish that everyone will be lifted from hunger and poverty. Then, slowly open your eyes and put your compassion into concrete action.
Possible Ways You Can Help
Although donating money to charitable organizations like Heifer International which work hard to end world hunger and poverty is the most direct way, it isn’t the only thing you can do.
You can also promote and help a good cause while hosting a gathering at home, in your workplace or at your favorite community gathering spot by incorporating a fund raising element to it. Check out the website of Heifer International for ideas and resources.
To understand more about the cause of world food crisis that led to widespread hunger and poverty, and what we can do about it, visit the Food First website.
Related Products Others Have Found Useful:
Have you signed up for our FREE e-zine?
Sign up for The Conscious Life's Free Monthly Digest and get Guy Finley's The Illusion of Limitation MP3 program free!
Add Your Comment
Let us know what you think via Facebook, or with the online form below. Comments are moderated before appearing here. See additional information about comments.
