In time, the student begins to contemplate the phrases on behalf of a stranger, and finally, on behalf of an enemy. As its name implies, the practice is designed to cultivate loving-kindness and deepen the awareness of how our choices may affect the peace, ease and happiness of ourselves, our loved ones, people we have never met and those we find difficult. The exercise itself is hard to master, she said. That's why it's called a practice. Surya Das and both of the Bays are quick to point out that nothing, even karma, is inherently good or bad.
Intention is critical and so are circumstances.
A mindful person tries to evaluate all these factors before making a choice about what to do or say. Acknowledging that, practically speaking, karma is often perceived as bad, Surya Das said human beings today have advantages when it comes to transforming karma. We don't have to travel great distances to find the best teachers to help us. We can go into therapy in order to change patterns that no longer work. We can attend seminars and support groups.