Spiritual Teacher Claims Americans Cannot Open Hearts by Thinking of Mothers

What was said

"I was at a Tibetan empowerment and the Lama said, 'Okay, we're all going to open our hearts now to do this practice. So as a way of opening your heart, think about your mother.' And then he said, 'Oh, wait a minute, this is America. I forgot that in America thinking about your mother doesn't necessarily open your heart.'"

Ram Dass recounted a Tibetan lama's realization that the traditional Buddhist practice of opening the heart by contemplating one's mother fails in American culture due to widespread childhood trauma and dysfunctional family dynamics. This cultural difference highlights how Western practitioners face unique obstacles requiring alternative approaches to compassion practices.