Recently on DW, someone mentioned the Theravadan practice of "Four Protective Meditations" which they do prior to settling down for their main sit. These are, I think,
1) The Buddha
2) Compassion
3) The Repulsiveness of the Body
4) Death.
Can any kind person tell me more about these? Are they exclusively Theravadan? Where do they come from? Canonical support or mentions? And, of course, any practical hints...
Protective Meditations
Re: Protective Meditations
They are individually found in the Nikayas, but nowhere there collected as a set of four. There was a Tricycle article about them a while ago, and Bhikkhu Bodhi did a talk on each one.
I don't think Tricycle is free; I can't see most of it, anyway, but there it is for what it's worth.
I don't think Tricycle is free; I can't see most of it, anyway, but there it is for what it's worth.
- "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.
"And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.
- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]
Re: Protective Meditations
Many thanks Dave.
Re: Protective Meditations
There is collection of Protective Verses which includes Long Discourse #32, The Atanatiya Protective Verses.Sam Vara wrote:Recently on DW, someone mentioned the Theravadan practice of "Four Protective Meditations" which they do prior to settling down for their main sit. These are, I think,
1) The Buddha
2) Compassion
3) The Repulsiveness of the Body
4) Death.
Can any kind person tell me more about these? Are they exclusively Theravadan? Where do they come from? Canonical support or mentions? And, of course, any practical hints...
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Re: Protective Meditations
Hi Sam Vara
The second one is Metta
I think they are called (individually) protections in some suttas but not set up as a group like the Brahmavihara's.
The second one is Metta
I think they are called (individually) protections in some suttas but not set up as a group like the Brahmavihara's.
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.
He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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Re: Protective Meditations
The Four Protections are mentions in Practical Insight Meditatiton
- The Qualities of the Buddha (Buddhānussati), to overcome fear and give confidence
- Loving-kindness (mettabhāvanā) to overcome anger.
- The loathsome aspects of the body (asubha) to overcome lust and infatuation
- Recollection of Death (maranussanti) to overcome laziness and heedlessness
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