How many emails do you write each day? I just counted and yesterday it was 64! Most of them are business emails that jump right into the message without any greeting or closing. However, some do start with “Dear (whoever)” or “Hi!” and end with a sign-off.
I usually end those kinds of emails with “Metta, Bodhipaksa.” Metta is a Buddhist term for kindness, often translated as “lovingkindness.” I prefer the term kindness because it’s more familiar and easier to relate to.
While responding to someone who couldn’t attend a gathering because of work, and signing off with “Metta, Bodhipaksa,” I had a realization. I could actually connect with warmth and kindness towards the person I was writing to. Normally, these sign-offs are just formalities, and I don’t give much thought to them.
Instead, I took a few seconds to think about the person I was writing to, reminding myself that they have feelings just like I do. This simple act of empathy helped a sense of warmth and kindness naturally arise. Even half an hour later, I still felt different from this quick exercise.
This is similar to how I teach the practice of cultivating metta, known as “metta bhavana” (bhavana means cultivation). You don’t need to force it or try to make something happen. Kindness arises naturally when we empathize with others and recognize their feelings as important as our own.
From now on, every time I write “With metta, Bodhipaksa,” I’m going to pause and empathize with the person I’m writing to.
After 36 years of meditating, it’s surprising it took me this long to figure this out. It’s a simple, beautiful way to get in touch with our feelings of lovingkindness and build more meaningful relationships during the day.
I love seeing how meditation and mindfulness blend into our daily work life. Often, when I reread an email before sending it, I remind myself that there’s another human on the other end. They might appreciate a simple “hey” instead of just “where is X?” I used to think saving words in an email was efficient, not realizing that building meaningful connections is more valuable in the long run.
Thanks for sharing this insight! It’s about genuinely meaning what you say—whether it’s a hello, goodbye, or well wishes. This raises consciousness and sends positive energy.
With Metta,
Dimple Herath