Metta meditation

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
Post Reply
Sroberto
Posts: 61
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 2:29 am

Metta

Post by Sroberto »

I believe that metta meditation plays a crucial role in one's progress along the path, but there does not seem to be much emphasis or resources for those wanting to integrate metta into their teravada practice. Any comments, guidance or suggestions?
Sroberto
Posts: 61
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 2:29 am

Metta meditation

Post by Sroberto »

I believe that metta meditation plays a crucial role in one's progress along the path, but there does not seem to be much emphasis or resources for those wanting to integrate metta into their teravada practice. Any comments, guidance or suggestions?
JohnK
Posts: 1332
Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 11:06 pm
Location: Tetons, Wyoming, USA

Re: Metta meditation

Post by JohnK »

Sroberto wrote: Sun Apr 22, 2018 11:34 am ...there does not seem to be much emphasis or resources for those wanting to integrate metta into their teravada practice. Any comments, guidance or suggestions?
I don't know if you are referring to DW regarding few metta resources (or the web, or books, or?), but I just googled "dhammawheel metta" and the first hit showed about 5 DW topics and a link for "more" which then showed many, many topics here on DW.
I suppose it would be easier if there were a specific location here on DW for Metta topics and resources -- or maybe more generally, the Brahma Viharas.
Those who grasp at perceptions & views wander the internet creating friction. [based on Sn4:9,v.847]
Sroberto
Posts: 61
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 2:29 am

Re: Metta meditation

Post by Sroberto »

JohnK wrote: Tue Apr 24, 2018 3:14 pm
Sroberto wrote: Sun Apr 22, 2018 11:34 am ...there does not seem to be much emphasis or resources for those wanting to integrate metta into their teravada practice. Any comments, guidance or suggestions?
I don't know if you are referring to DW regarding few metta resources (or the web, or books, or?), but I just googled "dhammawheel metta" and the first hit showed about 5 DW topics and a link for "more" which then showed many, many topics here on DW.
I suppose it would be easier if there were a specific location here on DW for Metta topics and resources -- or maybe more generally, the Brahma Viharas.
It does require some searching, but there is so little content in comparison to the others. Anyway thanks for your help.
User avatar
Lucas Oliveira
Posts: 1890
Joined: Wed Jun 10, 2015 10:07 pm

Re: Metta meditation

Post by Lucas Oliveira »

How to Practice Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta)

viewtopic.php?f=41&t=27032

:anjali:
I participate in this forum using Google Translator. http://translate.google.com.br

http://www.acessoaoinsight.net/
Digity
Posts: 1445
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:13 am

Re: Metta meditation

Post by Digity »

User1249x
Posts: 2749
Joined: Mon Jan 01, 2018 8:50 pm

Re: Metta meditation

Post by User1249x »

Digity wrote: Tue May 01, 2018 1:06 am
Your link is broken...correct one below:
http://www.seeingthroughthenet.net/wp-c ... _Heart.pdf
cheers mate
Digity
Posts: 1445
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:13 am

Re: Metta meditation

Post by Digity »

User1249x wrote: Tue May 01, 2018 1:08 am
Digity wrote: Tue May 01, 2018 1:06 am
Your link is broken...correct one below:
http://www.seeingthroughthenet.net/wp-c ... _Heart.pdf
cheers mate
I read the first few pages. Bhikkhu K. Ñāṇananda doesn't seem to be a fan of the traditional metta practice towards yourself, neutral person, enemy, etc. What are your thoughts on it?
User1249x
Posts: 2749
Joined: Mon Jan 01, 2018 8:50 pm

Re: Metta meditation

Post by User1249x »

Digity wrote: Tue May 01, 2018 1:18 am
User1249x wrote: Tue May 01, 2018 1:08 am
Digity wrote: Tue May 01, 2018 1:06 am
Your link is broken...correct one below:
http://www.seeingthroughthenet.net/wp-c ... _Heart.pdf
cheers mate
I read the first few pages. Bhikkhu K. Ñāṇananda doesn't seem to be a fan of the traditional metta practice towards yourself, neutral person, enemy, etc. What are your thoughts on it?
I approach it as a perception training, i just condition that perception more or less the way The Venerable describes it, just wiring myself to think in that way making it the default. It seems to work very well. Might be useful to convince yourself that it is a proper attitude towards beings if not sure but that is my own advice fwiw.

I do not know if the Vsm methodology is necessary or it's relative merits but i see no wrong in doing it. I personally think mixing the approaches is ok too but i like the Ven. Nyanananda's approach personally because it kind of has more Sutta support and focuses on all kind of beings and has the added benefit of recollecting god's and other realms. The Vsm approach might be more useful occasionally i guess, more like a tactical nuke or preliminary.

There might be more to the differences than that but not having experimented much with it i wouldn't know.
User avatar
mikenz66
Posts: 19943
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:37 am
Location: Aotearoa, New Zealand

Re: Metta meditation

Post by mikenz66 »

Given that the goal is to be radiating metta to all beings, I don't see any problem with what you use as the starting point, as long as you keep the goal in mind. Ven Analayo, for example, has said that the method of picking specific people didn't work at all for him. For others it does.

A few years ago I attended a session where the teacher (Ven Aggacitta, from Malaysia) led us through all conceivable approaches: using particular people, encompassing beings in a larger and larger area (room, monastery, city, country) radiating in all directions, and so on. After the exercise, he passed around the mic and we explained what we thought worked best for us. Of course, there was tremendous variation.

I think exercises like that are great ways of ridding yourself of the "one true method" idea about such things. You can do a similar exercise for other meditation topics, such as mindfulness of breathing...

:heart:
Mike
User avatar
Dhammarakkhito
Posts: 1115
Joined: Tue Jun 27, 2017 7:31 am
Contact:

Re: Metta meditation

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

i support ven ñāṇananda's exegesis and i think 'self-mettā' fosters conceit and it goes against the self-abnegating love prescribed in suttas
but we've had that discussion in other threads. if you look at sedaka sutta and reflect on it you may come to agree
you can start with your enemy. mindfulness of in and out breathing; breathing in cessation of anger and breathing out cessation of anger
https://www.ancient-buddhist-texts.net/ ... athing.htm

see the drawbacks of ill will and develop revulsion for it and you will automatically cultivate mettā, no?
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

https://www.facebook.com/noblebuddhadha ... 34/?type=3

http://seeingthroughthenet.net/
https://sites.google.com/site/santipada ... allytaught
Post Reply