Metta towards animals?

[Stephen K]

Would it be unwholesome for one to include one's pet in one's metta bhavana?

[Cittasanto]

would it be unwholesome to include oneself, family or friends in standard practice?

[Stephen K]

would it be unwholesome to include oneself, family or friends in standard practice?

No.

But I've just never heard or read of animals being included. Hence why I asked.

[bodom]

I always include my animals in my metta practioce as well as all the sick, homeless and hungry animals in the world.

[Dan74]

Metta is for sentient beings. And animals are sentient.

This is also something that really needs a bit of attention in our times, I think. The way animals are treated, the rights they are accorded... It's a sad sad situation, IMO.

_/|\_

[Chula]

From Karanīya Metta Sutta (http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html):

"Think: Happy, at rest,
may all beings be happy at heart.
Whatever beings there may be,
weak or strong, without exception,
long, large,
middling, short,
subtle, blatant,
seen & unseen,
near & far,
born & seeking birth:
May all beings be happy at heart."

[Cittasanto]

would it be unwholesome to include oneself, family or friends in standard practice?

No.

But I've just never heard or read of animals being included. Hence why I asked.

Have a read of the Karaniya metta sutta

Wishing: In gladness and in safety, May all beings be at ease. Whatever living beings there may be; Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none, The great or the mighty, medium, short or small, The seen and the unseen, Those living near and far away, Those born and to-be-born — May all beings be at ease! Let none deceive another, Or despise any being in any state. Let none through anger or ill-will Wish harm upon another. Even as a mother protects with her life Her child, her only child, So with a boundless heart Should one cherish all living beings; Radiating kindness over the entire world: Spreading upwards to the skies, And downwards to the depths; Outwards and unbounded, Freed from hatred and ill-will. Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down Free from drowsiness, One should sustain this recollection.

there is a related one on snakes but cant think of the exact sutta to provide a link, but the reason I asked was because pets tend to fall into one of two catagories friends or family members, I know my cat while she was alive was part of my family, and she is my little sister, every time I have a hard time with metta for myself I bring her to mind laying belly up on my knees, or me scootching allong the floor on my bum to get the remote because she is fast asleep on my knees or simply refusing to move, or sticking her tongue out while she was sleeping.

[bodom]

In Ajahn Brams book Minfulness bliss and beyond he tells of using the thought of a kitten to jumpstart his metta practice .

[BlackBird]

I find it a lot easier to be friendly towards animals than I do some humans, put it that way

[bodom]

I find it a lot easier to be friendly towards animals than I do some humans, put it that way

Yes i agree with that lol.

[AdvaitaJ]

I find it a lot easier to be friendly towards animals than I do some humans, put it that way

Ditto!

Regards: AdvaitaJ

[Stephen K]

Right, what I meant was: usually we send metta to five persons - an extremely intimate, a lovable, an indifferent, an unpleasant, and a hostile one. Could one include one's pet in one of these, e.g. as a 'lovable'?

[bodom]

Right, what I meant was: usually we send metta to five persons - an extremely intimate, a lovable, an indifferent, an unpleasant, and a hostile one. Could one include one's pet in one of these, e.g. as a 'lovable'?

The five person metta scheme is a commentarial explanation by Buddhagosa of how mettabhavana should be progressive. The Buddha never taught metta this way. The only way he instructed was to pervade the four quarters with the brahmaviharas. Metta practice should not be limited to only five persons but to all beings. I recommend reading Bhante G's new book Mindfulness in Plain English as he gives excellent and alternative explanations of how to practice metta.

[Aloka]

.

In the Amaravati Monastery chanting book, the chant of the Buddha's words on loving kindness includes:

" May all living beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be,
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none."