touching the earth

Last night did a very profound practice "Touching the Earth". Thay suggests that you do this practice until your anger and resentment etc has been released. It consists of listening to words about your ancestors and how they are in your body and recognising them in you even if they have not been able to support you because of their own fear, hatred and anger (ie your parents, grandparents and blood family). Then thanking your spiritual ancestors (which for me include counsellors and therapists) and then the hardest part of all drawing on their strength to reach out to those whom have made you suffer and those around you suffer with love and compassion. Recognising that those who have made you suffer are full of hatred and fear. I have found this exercise very difficult- the best I could manage was that I was glad that the person whom had made me suffer most was dead. Thay has written about what the world needs is reconciliation and deep listening and compassion to draw sides of conflict together- but reflecting on how difficult it is for me to reconcile myself it will be so hard to see this happen.
I have found meditating in the sangha a very different experience to meditating on my own. Last night during sitting meditation I found that my heart and throat chakras were opening up (these concepts are from Hindu beliefs) for some reason they were closed. The energy of the sangha is so warm and giving that you need to experience it, words cannot describe it.
I also took heart from Trish Thompson our teacher, whose partner Hank has yet to appreciate the practice too- yet is going to Plum Village with her for 6 weeks. My husband has told me that if I go to Plum Village I'll be going on my own- but he is supportive of me going to the sangha even though he himself does not practice.
Trish has spoken about how she is not only meditating for herself but also for the world. I think that in the work she does with the sangha she is contributing to the world. For me myself I think I meditate for myself first and the benefits are that I am more compassionate towards others. I would like to contribute to the world more and as I have written previously I hope that my writing contributes in some small way-especially my recent writing.