Generating a deep compassion can make our spiritual practice and prayers more potent in their ability to help those in distress. Before beginning your daily meditation, spend some time reflecting on the suffering in the world, or on your friends' or patients' suffering, and as their suffering touches and opens your heart, let your compassion grow even deeper, and your intention to help even stronger. Dedicate your meditation and prayers to those who are suffering terribly. You could even imagine that they are gathered around and practicing with you, and that you are all receiving the blessings together.
Each day, then, re-establish your sacred intention for your spiritual path and your entire life: recognizing the many degrees of suffering that all beings everywhere experience, pray that they all may have happiness and become free of suffering, and that all attain liberation. Inspired with this intention, you might eventually decide that the best way you could benefit others and free them from suffering is to dedicate your life toward attaining enlightenment.
You might pray, "May everything I do today be beneficial. Through remembering my spiritual practice throughout the day, may I gain more confidence in the wisdom and compassion of my true nature. And through this realization, may every contact I have with others bring us both benefit, relieving suffering, bringing healing and happiness, and furthering us along the path to freedom. May kindness and wisdom increase in the world, and through my efforts today, may I contribute to the betterment of life for all.
— Christine Longaker in The Wisdom of Listening by Mark Brady