Metta Meditation

[Rui Sousa]

Hello Chris,

generate warm feelings towards a particular being initially

The sequence I follow is, towards me, then my son *, my wife, my parents and brother, my whole family and friends, then some co-workers and neighbors to whom I have mostly neutral feelings, and then to those people a hold some kind of aversion, then people I do not know but who committed horrible crimes, the beings in the hell realm, the beings in the celestial realm, everywhere.


* at this point usually I remember the Karaniya Metta Sutta passage:

As a mother would risk her life
to protect her child, her only child,
even so should one cultivate a limitless heart
with regard to all beings.

[Dhammakid]

Hello Chris,

generate warm feelings towards a particular being initially

The sequence I follow is, towards me, then my son *, my wife, my parents and brother, my whole family and friends, then some co-workers and neighbors to whom I have mostly neutral feelings, and then to those people a hold some kind of aversion, then people I do not know but who committed horrible crimes, the beings in the hell realm, the beings in the celestial realm, everywhere.


* at this point usually I remember the Karaniya Metta Sutta passage:

As a mother would risk her life
to protect her child, her only child,
even so should one cultivate a limitless heart
with regard to all beings.

Wow, Rui Sousa, that seems like a very extensive and comprehensive practice! How long does your session usually last? How often do you practice it?


Dhammakid

[Rui Sousa]

Wow, Rui Sousa, that seems like a very extensive and comprehensive practice! How long does your session usually last? How often do you practice it?


Dhammakid

Well...

I may only take one minute, or less... I don't have any kind of routine, I just do it when I feel like it.

Sometimes I don't do the whole sequence, I may jump directly to the last step, sending that warm good feeling everywhere.

Another interesting thing is how, after sending Metta, Mudita may arise based on the idea that the Metta you are sending is working and all beings are already well. Then thinking again on those who are suffering, Karuna will arise. And finnaly thinking that beings suffer because of their ignorance, and that their kamma prevents them from developing wisdom any time soon, Equanitmity arises.

In my understanding these moments of consciousness are very beneficial to the practitioner, establishing a tendency to be friendly and maternal with all beings.

[m0rl0ck]

Greetings Manapa,

I don't do it very often, but when I do I use (or based it on) Malcolm Huxter's guided MP3 meditation, downloadable at http://www.buddhanet.net/audio-meditation.htm

Metta,
Retro.

Wow I just listened to the 3rd of the 3. Thank you for the link.

[salaatti]

How often the person who metta is sent to, should be changed?

[Jechbi]

related thread

[Cittasanto]

bump

[mirco]

what method, or formula do you use?

A practical, bare-bones guide to Loving-Kindness Meditation

Dhamma Sukha Talks on Metta

[Cittasanto]

what method, or formula do you use?

A practical, bare-bones guide to Loving-Kindness Meditation

Dhamma Sukha Talks on Metta

how have you found this practice from others out there?

[cooran]

Hello all,

You may be interested in this audio of a talk by Ajahn Sujato on
A practical step by step way to metta meditation
http://my.thanhsiang.org/av/english/ssangha.html

with metta
Chris

[Sanghamitta]

[Shonin]

Thank you for sharing. Metta meditation is powerful and wonderful. And usually it's not given much attention. It's great that Ajahn Sujato is teaching this practice with the intensity, time and detail that it deserves.

[Ytrog]

Will look into it. Metta meditation is one of the most difficult meditations for me to do.

[Jechbi]

bump

[cooran]

Hello all,

Bhante Sujato's Retreat on Metta Meditation held recently in Western Australia:


Retreat taught by Ajahn Sujato at Jhana Grove focusing on Metta (Loving Kindness) Meditation
http://www.dhammaloka.org.au/downloads/ ... -2011.html


with metta
Chris

[Cittasanto]

Thought I would bump this thread?

what method, or formula do you use?
and for those in the know what are the principle Suttas on this topic?
allot of the methods I have seen seam to be mainly governed by the commentaries, but what is the Buddhas formula for metta meditation?

With Metta
Manapa

[daverupa]

what is the Buddhas formula for metta meditation?

It would seem that one "pervades [all] direction[s] with thoughts of" the brahmaviharas "in all circumstances, for all purposes", thoughts which are "grown great and measureless without ill will and anger."

Householder, what is the limitless release of mind? Here, the bhikkhu pervades one direction with thoughts of loving kindness. Also the second, the third, the fourth, above, below and across, in all circumstances, for all purposes, pervades the whole world with thoughts of loving kindness, extensive, grown great and measureless without ill will and anger. The bhikkhu pervades one direction with thoughts of compassion,...re....intrinsic joy,...re.... equanimity. Also the second, the third, the fourth, above, below and across, in all circumstances, for all purposes, pervades the whole world with equanimity, extensive, grown great and measureless without ill will and anger. Householder, this is the limitless release of mind.

Are we able to understand

...He trains himself, 'I will breathe in releasing the mind.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out releasing the mind.'

as a method in this case?

[befriend]

after a an hour or so of metta i will have incredibly pleasant dreams. it takes me about 4 minutes to fall asleep. i wake up and the morning is the best part of my day because my energy is so enthusiastic and bright from metta. it is an incredibly pleasant abiding. i also smile slightly all day, which makes my mind bright and happy.