Sometimes our relationships with our loved ones are complex or even tragic. Naikan practice is not meant to deny that these are parts of reality. However, through Naikan, one begins to notice how they have been supported in the world at different times in their lives. Naikan is not necessarily meant to inspire guilt or gratitude but to cultivate awareness of actions and things we may have missed in the past.
In honor of Mother's Day, try these Naikan activities:
1) Calculate the money spent on you by your mother from age 0 to 21. Try to be as specific as possible with your estimations. Instead of calculating a broad cost for the food she bought for you, recall exact meals cooked and bought, to the best possible cent calculation.
2) Pick a birthday from your life and answer the following Naikan questions about that day, using very specific, concrete answers (instead of "laughter" try "My mother baked me a Betty Crocker cake and decorated it with soccer players"):
What did I receive from my mother?
What did my mother receive from me?
What harm did I cause my mother?
3) Pick one of your mother's birthdays and answer the same three questions.
A portion of Naikan reflection involves "reporting out," and you may report your findings by writing constructive.livingtn@gmail.com if you choose to.
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