Sutta's on metta Meditation?

[Maarten]

Hello Everyone,

I have been practicing metta meditation and have found it of great benefit. I always want to stick as close to the sutta's as possible, so my question is: what are the sutta's on metta meditation?
I found the metta and Karanya metta sutta's through google but they seem to be general discourses on metta.
Any references to sutta's about metta would be highly appreciated!

Metta to all!

[Sam Vara]

Hi,

You could try this one:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.021x.than.html

which has the standard but beautiful formulation:

In any event, you should train yourselves: 'Our minds will be unaffected and we will say no evil words. We will remain sympathetic to that person's welfare, with a mind of good will, and with no inner hate. We will keep pervading him with an awareness imbued with good will and, beginning with him, we will keep pervading the all-encompassing world with an awareness imbued with good will — abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.' That's how you should train yourselves.

It is probably worth having a look at Access to Insight http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index.html and using the search engine there.

[bodom]

I found the metta and Karanya metta sutta's through google but they seem to be general discourses on metta.

You wont find in the suttas any detailed or specific meditation instructions for formal metta meditation practice the way that you would find for say anapanasati. They tend to be very general outlines and descriptions of practice rather than systematic explanations, though the Karanya metta is probably the most detailed.

The standard loving kindness meditation instructions that we know of today and that our most often taught these days ie. the spreading of metta first to oneself, then a benefactor, a neutral person etc. come from the commentaries most specifically the Visuddhimagga.

In my own practice I do not do much formal metta meditation practice but rather keep metta as a theme for contemplation and an attitude to be kept constantly in mind during my daily life and interactions with others.

[Hanzze]

As metta is easy wrong understood I guess that is a good essay to understand it a little better. We easily tend to develope beautiful emotions.

Metta Means Goodwill

One would find also some good recources to the suttas there and as well a good explaining, as there are many confusing translations and ideas of metta.

[Stephen K]

This book might be helpful: Loving-kindness Meditation, Meditation on Loving-kindness and Other Sublime States

[Maarten]

Thank you all for your replies and for any future additions,

I will read the resources you posted, and already read part of the loving kindnes book and it is excellent!
I was hoping there would be a lot more sutta's on loving kindness since I heared ven. Vimalaramsi say the Buddha recommended it more that anything else.


Metta

[Hanzze]

Vimalaramsi say the Buddha recommended it more that anything else.

Does he also quote any recources about his idea? Metta is a good protection for one self and others (if not just hypocratical) but at least not a factor of enlightenment.

[Maarten]

Vimalaramsi say the Buddha recommended it more that anything else.

Does he also quote any recources about his idea? Metta is a good protection for one self and others (if not just hypocratical) but at least not a factor of enlightenment.

Hi Hanzze!

It's been a while since I listened to his talk. I think he does not quote any recources and that it was his own finding. One of the reasons I started this tread is to see if he was correct.

With Metta!

[Hanzze]

Dear Maarten,

did you ever observed that those strong attached to metta (love...) have a tendency to be more corpulent? I am not sure, but I guess there is a secred link. Who gives much needs much, maybe. Some years ago I had my self 150 kg. But I guess we are running offtopic.

Bhikkhu Vimalaramsi, does great work and brings a lot of people on a good path and metta is of cause importand on the path, preconditioned one is on the path. Metta how ever is also a great trapping tool (just think on all that love affairs in religions) but it might have its danger that come with all drugs.

I remember that Mirco, a member here, has a lot of experianses once with metta meditation and also in regard of Bhikkhu Vimalaramsi approach to metta and the path. Maybe he will share some infos for you here, if not, you might send him a message. I am sure that your questions are very wellcome and also well answered.

[Maarten]

Hi Hanzze,

Thank you for pointing out these dangers, I have heard about them before. I will certainly keep them in mind to make sure they don't become obstacles in my practice. For now I will continue my metta practice as I feel it is the most beneficial for me at this time because my greatest defilements are all related to aversion / I'll will.

With metta

[Cittasanto]

This is probably where the practice of directing metta to specific people came from

Mettā-sahagatena cetasā ekaṃ disaṃ pharitvā viharati Tathā dutiyaṃ tathā tatiyaṃ tathā catutthaṃ Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṃ sabbadhi sabbattatāya Sabbavantaṃ lokaṃ mettā-sahagatena cetasā Vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjhena pharitvā vihāratī
I will abide pervading one direction with a mind endowed with friendliness; in the same way the second, in the same way the third, in the same way the fourth; thus above, below, around and everywhere, extended to all; renouncing the entire world with a mind endowed with friendliness; dwelling suffused with this abundant, lofty, & limitless state that is without aggression, or ill-will.

mixed with this

"And how, young householder, does a noble disciple cover the six quarters?

"The following should be looked upon as the six quarters. The parents should be looked upon as the East, teachers as the South, wife and children as the West, friends and associates as the North, servants and employees as the Nadir, ascetics and brahmans as the Zenith.

this does support the idea that metta isn't a formal practice done like anapana, but the formal practice is also useful!