Christina Feldman is cofounder of the Gaia House retreat center in the UK and is a guiding teacher at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. She is coauthor with Jack Kornfield of Soul Food, and author of several other books including Compassion and Silence.
In this gracefully written book, Feldman explicates the four relational qualities which comprise the brahma viharas or the Four Immeasurables: kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. Nurturing them in our daily lives is a noble spiritual practice which can result in healing both the self and the world. Feldman writes:
"The Buddha taught: If I did not think this path and its fruition in liberation was possible for you, I would not ask it of you. Because I know this path of immeasurable freedom is for you, therefore I ask it of you."
Many benefits accrue from these practicing these qualities. One is that we learn to treat all moments with respect, and another is that we pay close attention to the little things which make a big difference in the quality of our lives. Or as the Buddha put it:
"Whether standing, sitting, walking or lying down we abide in kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. There is no more noble way to live in this world."
