The power of metta

[Jason]

I seriously have a hard time believing that the cultivation of metta can protect one from fire, poison, knives and spears (see this thread). Does anybody take this seriously?

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Jason,

I seriously have a hard time believing that the cultivation of metta can protect one from fire, poison, knives and spears (see this thread). Does anybody take this seriously?

At a minimum, I think that if someone is replete with lovingkindness, they're not going to act in such ways that anyone would want to harm with poison, knives, spears or having their house burned down.

Metta,
Retro.

[Jechbi]

I guess it comes from here.

"Monks, for one whose awareness-release through good will is cultivated, developed, pursued, handed the reins and taken as a basis, given a grounding, steadied, consolidated, and well-undertaken, eleven benefits can be expected. Which eleven?

"One sleeps easily, wakes easily, dreams no evil dreams. One is dear to human beings, dear to non-human beings. The devas protect one. Neither fire, poison, nor weapons can touch one. One's mind gains concentration quickly. One's complexion is bright. One dies unconfused and — if penetrating no higher — is headed for the Brahma worlds.

"These are the eleven benefits that can be expected for one whose awareness-release through good will is cultivated, developed, pursued, handed the reins and taken as a basis, given a grounding, steadied, consolidated, and well-undertaken."

As I read this in light of your question, Jason, I notice that many of these benefits seem to relate to mental phenomena. I wonder if the fire, poison and weapons that cannot touch one are the fire of greed, the poison of delusion and the weapons of hatred as states of mind. Because these things certainly could be contravened through the practice of metta.

Metta

[nathan]

I seriously have a hard time believing that the cultivation of metta can protect one from fire, poison, knives and spears (see this thread). Does anybody take this seriously?

I know for a repeatedly reconfirmed fact that it works with fire, poison, knives, guns, people, dogs, bears, cougars, whales, eagles and all kinds of other stuff you also probably would not believe if I mentioned it.

metta & upekkha