I posted this in a different thread, but I think it fits here. I first heard it read as part of a Dharma talk. From Peter Russell (The White Hole in Time,1992,p.128): Love is not something you do, It is not how you behave. There's nothing you can do that constitutes loving another, No action that is...

Will do, thanks for the links.

Yes, lots of good stuff in the post. I'll quote here the two points that don't quite ring true for me. ...Remember that at some point, in order to reach Nibbana, you'll have to completely let go of each other and of your concern for each other. If you're already in a relationship with someone who's ...

Maitre, Thank you for your detailed post. As a previous question prompted a wondering, I appreciate different folks take on it. ...Certainly from the Roman Catholic perspective it matters that a priest wholly believes in the doctrines of the church, so how can they practice a tradition which teaches...

Can I consider myself 'Buddhist' (as a layperson) if I follow the 5 Precepts, study Buddha's teaching, meditate, try to cultivate Metta and follow the Noble Eightfold Path, even if I didn't take any vows in front of any monk... This suggests the inverse question. Can one sincerely attempt to follow...

FWIW, the advice I have heard is pick one, go deep (as with a well); the traditions have progressions and teachers who can guide along it. After going deep with one, possibly consider how another might provide another angle. This gets back to the "skillful means" of moving a person toward ...

You and/or your friend could have a look at One Dharma by Joseph Goldstein. My attempted simplistic summary in regard to friend's question: These are all "skillful means" to aid in progress toward liberation; they are not dogma. Liberation is beyond language, so different means (and even d...

Maybe post what "results" you are seeking.
That could influence the suggestions.

In case it is helpful, this is from Bhikkhu Bodhi's Intro to the Middle length Discourses. Notice he says that the term "has different specific references in different contexts." Sankhāra Although this word as used in the suttas has different specific references in different contexts, unli...

...some people can hold the world so lightly and assumed that this was the direction that the practice takes, but maybe I'm mistaken. Absolutely don't take the replies to suggest that you are mistaken about that! Humble (and perhaps wrong) suggestion: Practice ardently; if a certain detailed point ...

Seems that the relevant ignorance would be in clinging to the diamond in hopes that clinging to such pleasant things would be ultimately satisfying. So, the way to not be fooled is to get to know the cause of suffering and perhaps to get a sense of the equanimity of not grasping. (This may not be wh...

Perhaps not exactly metta, but in the ballpark,and maybe helpful in inspiring metta. From Peter Russell (The White Hole in Time,1992,p.128): Love is not something you do, It is not how you behave. There's nothing you can do that constitutes loving another, No action that is of itself loving. Love is...

Link to IMS audio resources where (if you scroll down) you will find a guided metta meditation by Sharon Salzberg to download or stream.
'http://www.dharma.org/resources/audio

Lotus, did you see the recent (1/29) post by Bhikku Pesala? (in "Discovering") -- his new short book addresses this in some detail.

This is why mettā, karuṇā, muditā, upekkhā are so important to develop: ...Without it, you end up relentlessly trying to apply not-self to an entrenched sense of self: not going to happen. Bam :!: This makes sense/feels right. The brahma vihara practices and seeing into anatta -- mutually deepening...