Metta Meditation Technique Questions

[Jhana4]

Hi,

I have a few miscellaneous metta meditation technique questions. Thanks in advance for your time in answering any of them.

1. In some Vihara's I've been in they have used verses that have started with "May I be well, happy and peaceful, May I always meet with success, ...".

is there a full copy of those verses online?
are those verses from a sutta? which one? is there a copy online?

2. I remember someone saying that when he does metta, he combines it with awareness of breath. He might day something breathing in or out. Is there a description of that particular metta technique online?

3. It seems like a good standard amount for an anapansati sitting is one hour. Is there such an optimal/decent/minimal amount of time for a metta meditation sitting?

Thanks in advance for your time in providing answers to any of these questions

Steve

[befriend]

i know of a metta technique where you breathe in metta coming into you and breathe metta out, check out dharmaseed.org look for a metta talk by Chas Dicapua.

[mikenz66]

Hi Jhana4,

I have a few miscellaneous metta meditation technique questions. Thanks in advance for your time in answering any of them.

1. In some Vihara's I've been in they have used verses that have started with "May I be well, happy and peaceful, May I always meet with success, ...".

is there a full copy of those verses online?
are those verses from a sutta? which one? is there a copy online?

Do you mean this?

The Sublime Attitudes

Ahaṃ sukhito homi
May I be happy.
Niddukkho homi
May I be free from stress & pain.
Avero homi
May I be free from animosity.
Abyāpajjho homi
May I be free from oppression.
Anīgho homi
May I be free from trouble.
Sukhī attānaṃ pariharāmi
May I look after myself with ease.
...
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... ml#sublime

Some is from Suttas. For example, the section on equanimity:

(UPEKKHĀ — EQUANIMITY)

Sabbe sattā kammassakā kamma-dāyādā kamma-yonī kamma-bandhū kamma-paṭisaraṇā.

All living beings are the owners of their actions, heir to their actions, born of their actions, related through their actions, and live dependent on their actions.

Is in suttas such as this one: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka


Mike

[Cittasanto]

3. It seems like a good standard amount for an anapansati sitting is one hour. Is there such an optimal/decent/minimal amount of time for a metta meditation sitting?

Thanks in advance for your time in providing answers to any of these questions

Steve

Hi Steve,
there is no optimal/decent/minimal amount of time for any practice. there is what you can do so best make the most of it!

[Maarten]

Hi Steve,

1. I know these from a book I read, but I think you can be creative with the verses: “May I be happy”, “May I be healthy”, “May I be free from danger.”, “May I take care of myself happily.”
Just try to find some verses that generate some feelings of metta in you.
2. Maybe he does five minutes of metta before his breath meditation. He could also be watching the breath with metta. You can have metta towards anything in your experience, not just people.

[theY]

1. In some Vihara's I've been in they have used verses that have started with "May I be well, happy and peaceful, May I always meet with success, ...".

is there a full copy of those verses online?
are those verses from a sutta? which one? is there a copy online?

-Number 8 is the translated origin: http://books.google.co.th/books?id=B_UW ... &q&f=false

-Those verses aren't suttas, only a trick by Buddhaghosaacariya. However, it is very useful trick for mettaavihaarii.

That verse just a parikamma-words to let you observe your mettaa-kaayakamma, mettaa-vaciikamma, and mettaa-manokamma that you do to yourself by your mettaa-mind. Then you should develop that mind into the other--same mind, same feeling, but may be difference mettaa-kaayakamma, mettaa-vaciikamma, and mettaa-manokamma up to environment.

2. I remember someone saying that when he does metta, he combines it with awareness of breath. He might day something breathing in or out. Is there a description of that particular metta technique online?

That isn't a good idea for samatha.

3. It seems like a good standard amount for an anapansati sitting is one hour. Is there such an optimal/decent/minimal amount of time for a metta meditation sitting?

Pa-Auk sitting more than 2 hour, for twice and another kammatthaanna, to take a clearly effect.