Skandha Metta

I've been practicing a variant of the traditional metta meditation for the last few weeks or so and have had some good results. I've chatted about it with the Clayton, Nick and Kenneth and since it is working so well for me, I thought I'd give some more details here.
The attainment of permanent emotional grounding (stage 6 in the 7 stage model) is what I'm working on now and one of the issues I keep running into is how to calm the emotional body to the point where extended grounding is possible. Successful grounding relies on a sense of safety and peace, they work in tandem as stable platform on which direct mode can be entered. This meditation produces that with the added benefit of keeping attention at the reality behind the source of the self-contraction, the skandhas. I don't have to waste time trying to figure out how to direct loving kindness to illusory phenomena. I also think it will set some groundwork for moving from 6 to 7.

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Begin the meditation by recalling each of the 5 skandhas in sequence. They are form, feeling, thought, volition and consciousness.

Tune into form by looking around at the objects in the room including the physical body. Notice them all without judgement or comparison. Once they are seen, direct feelings of kindness, compassion and appreciation to each object that is noticed beginning with the body.

Tune into thought by noting, and for a time as each individual thought appears in consciousness hold it in appreciation and loving awareness. Don't judge the thoughts, just be grateful.

Tune into feelings by experiencing them on a physical level. Direct awareness to the body, note with care any sensations that hold somatic charge. Once they are clearly felt, do the same as you did for form and direct feelings of kindness, compassion and appreciation to each area with any kind of charge. Don't worry about the content of the thoughts, just be grateful that you are experiencing them.

Tune into volition by extending gratitude to the ability to choose. Revel in it. Notice how it feels in the instant before you move your body.

And finally tune into consicousness itself by imagining a field in which all the other skandhas are experienced. Notice the simple joy of being able to experience phenomena and generate a feeling loving kindness and gratitude to that capacity.

Finish off the meditation by noticing the change in the feeling tone. If you want to begin grounding and enter direct mode, now is a particularly good time.

This has been my practice over the last few days. It seems to be working out rather nicely. Please let me know if you guys have any questions.
Thanks,
-o

Love it!