Maitri: Cultivating Loving-Kindness

“Dear one, I am here for you.”

Parenting, at its core, is the practice of maitri—loving-kindness in action. It is not merely about providing for your child’s happiness but about nurturing an environment where joy, connection, and understanding can flourish authentically. Maitri invites us to approach parenting with intention and a commitment to truly seeing our children for who they are.

Deep Looking

Practicing loving-kindness as a parent begins with deep looking—a deliberate effort to understand your child not as an extension of yourself but as a unique individual. This understanding requires patience and presence, as you seek to uncover their inner world, their joys, their struggles, and their aspirations. Maitri teaches us to meet them where they are, embracing their individuality without imposing preconceived expectations.

Attentiveness

Maitri also calls for attentiveness, turning every moment into an opportunity to deepen your connection. Ask yourself: Who is my child today? What are they feeling? Why might they be experiencing pain or joy? How can I offer them the gift of presence and unconditional acceptance? Through mindfulness and intention, you create a foundation of trust and security that allows your child to thrive.

Suffering

When your child is suffering, maitri becomes a balm for the soul—not by fixing or erasing their discomfort but by holding space for their pain. In those moments, your loving presence becomes a sanctuary. It isn’t about solving their problems but about offering them the unwavering assurance that you will be there, guiding them with kindness and care. Like a soft light in the darkness, maitri illuminates the path forward, encouraging them to share their needs and allowing love to flow freely between you.

By embodying maitri, parenting transforms into a profound act of love—a practice of deep understanding, patience, and compassionate presence. Through maitri, the bond between parent and child becomes not only nurturing but transformative, enabling growth, healing, and a shared journey filled with loving-kindness.

My Offering

Mindful breathing brings the mind and body together. Our busy lives often make it difficult to bring our minds and bodies together. Embracing maitri requires us to be present with ourselves and our children in order bring the loving-kindness we want to the relationship.

To bring yourself to the present, try this approach:

1) As you take a breath hear your voice saying, “I know that I am breathing in.”

2) As you exhale hear your voice saying, “I know that I am breathing out.”

3) Let the movement of your mouth, throat, chest, and abdomen be a reminder of how you body is there.

4) Let the words expressing your breath be a reminder of your mind’s awareness of what is going on inside and outside of you.

5) When you feel your mind and body together, breath out the mantra “Dear one, I am here for you.”

6) Now be you best loving-kindness.