The meditative cultivation of lovingkindness or metta. Mindfulness is the common western translation for the buddhist. Loving kindness in buddhism is neither emotional or selfish. Compassion and lovingkindness meditation techniques. Lovingkindness meditation, or lkm for short, is about opening up the heart and cultivating love and compassion for ourselves and others. Traditional buddhist practices in different parts of the world consider this practice as a pathway for cultivating happiness, appreciation, satisfaction, and ultimate acceptance bodhi, 2005. Having a peaceful countenance day by day, hour by hour, second by second, is the mantra of my existence. Loving kindness meditation is an important part of the path. This is a wonderful commentary on geshe langri tangpas 10541123 eight verses of training the mind. It is one of the most important buddhist meditations for beginners the technical, buddhist name for this meditation technique is metta bhavana, metta meaning compassion and bhavana meaning cultivating. Throughout the old testament, the hebrew term hesed has a range of meaning. Lovingkindness in buddhism is neither emotional or selfish. Because there is no english equivalent to this hebrew term, miles coverdale created the biblical word lovingkindness to convey the depth and meaning of hesed. The practice of lovingkindness, or mettamaitri palisanskrit for love or kindness, meditation is a meditation practice which has been passed down since the time of the buddha over 2500 years ago.
Jan 31, 2016 january 31, 2016 in chelsea forbrook, essays tags. There was a fairytale element to lovingkindness meditation that didnt jibe with my empiricalpragmatic approach to life. No matter who you are or what you have done, come in. Judaism holds that the world was built with chesed lovingkindness we read in psalms. Lovingkindness definition and meaning bible dictionary. Thaipalienglish chanting book samathidhammaram centre.
The buddhist loving kindness meditation script metta meditation script is a prayer or simply words that we use for developing kindness and compassion. The others sharon salzberg has practiced buddhist meditation for many years, so the book provides much information about buddhism. The quality of loving friendliness, which wishes happiness and wellbeing for oneself and all beings. Loving kindness meditation cultivating an open heart. A meditation on lovingkindness this meditation uses words, images, and feelings to evoke a lovingkindness and friendliness toward oneself and others. The pali commentators define metta as the strong wish for the welfare and happiness of others parahitaparasukhakamana. Lovingkindness is a translation of the pali word metta, which is the first of the brahmaviharas, or the heavenly abodes.
It is used by many famous meditation teachers especially popular of late is sharon salzbergs loving kindness meditation script. Sharon salzberg approaches the buddhist practice with a clear eye and direct explanations that are easy to understand and use. The buddhas words on loving kindness abhayagiri sangha. The metta sutta is the buddhas key teaching on loving kindness. The word metta is a pali word that means, loving kindness. To practice loving kindness meditation, sit in a comfortable and relaxed manner. You can read the karinaya metta sutta, the buddha s words on lovingkindness, or learn a bit more about what metta is. With our current human life, we can either keep striving as usual which leads only to occasional temporary happiness, or keep working diligently but change our intention and learn to cherish all living beings leading to permanent happiness. Olam chesed yibaneh, the world is build with chesed psalm 89. It is loving kindness that radiates through the purified mind after eradicating hatred, jealousy, cruelty, enmity and grudges. The first step on that journey was understanding how western notions of feeling and emotion interfere with understanding what lovingkindness actually is. The cultivation of benevolence metta bhavana is a popular form of buddhist meditation. The term is derived from mitra, which means deep friendship. With each pass, i learn something new and deepen the effect of metta in my life.
Metta is the worlds supreme need today, greater, indeed, than ever before. It took me a long time to come to terms with lovingkindness. Many of the core buddhists texts and practices come from the buddha, and the metta sutta is no exception. Loving kindness meditation script, howto, benefits 2020. Lovingkindness chesed practices and resources rabbi. Mar 28, 2014 sylvia boorstein teaches about the buddhist practice called metta, which in poli, means lovingkindness. It isnt a cureall but definitely worth going into for increased positivity. I can appreciate why this book has become a classic in its circles.
This chanting was offered on november 25, 2017 at abhayagiri buddhist monastery. Nov 28, 2017 this chanting was offered on november 25, 2017 at abhayagiri buddhist monastery. Loving kindness meditation is a popular zen meditation technique which is practiced to develop compassion towards oneself and for all living beings loving kindness meditation also boosts our overall wellbeing and when practiced regularly, enhances happiness and helps us gain a deeper understanding of the world in which we live. The following is a basic set of instructions from the book the issue at hand by gil fronsdal written as a gift to the community. Lovingkindness quotes goodreads meet your next favorite book.
Gottta be the best book on becoming more at peace, self loving and connected through cultivating loving kindness friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity aka. A particular style of insight vipassana meditation deriving from. Metta bhavana buddhist loving kindness meditation is a technique that we use to create feelings of love and kindness, warm feelings that make your inner world a place of compassion. Set the intention to wrap this person in the love you now hold in your heart. After some readin i have come across loving kindness metta as a possible antidote to these feelings i feel towards others. The metta, or maitri, meditation is a lovingkindness practice. Although it purports to be about metta translated from the pali as lovingkindness, both what it is and how to cultivate it, it addresses much more than that, since metta can be seen as an entry point for just about every quality and practice that the buddha suggested we nurture in order to live happily. It explains not only what loving kindness is but what the benefits to practicing.
Buddhist metta by the late venerable ashin thittila. Sharon salzberg is one of todays bestknown buddhist teachers. I have worked through this useful book on loving kindness meditation four times. Jack kornfield, author of after the ecstasy, the laundry.
Loving kindness meditation audio download excel at life. With each recitation of the phrases, we are expressing an intention, planting the seeds of loving wishes over and over in our heart. Sharon salzbergs book illuminates the heart of lovingkindness like a lamp in the darkness, like the clearing of fog, like a sunrise on a beautiful morningit brings light so that all those with eyes may see. Perhaps one reason this practice has resonated with so many jews is the similarity to our ancient priestly blessing numbers 6.
It is lovingkindness that radiates through the purified mind after eradicating hatred, jealousy, cruelty, enmity and grudges. As you know, in the world now there is sufficient material and money and, as you see, we have very advanced intellects, very clever and brilliant authors, philosophers, psychologists, scientists and also religious people, ministers of law, morality, religion and so on. Self love healing 432hz music for meditation ancient frequency music positive aura cleanse duration. Years ago, i stumbled across a book by the vietnamese buddhist monk thich nhat hahn, and it changed me forever. Lovingkindness means showing kindness to others so that they will be well and happy. Jack kornfield, author of after the ecstasy, the laundry reading salzbergs book produces the sense of having been gifted abundantly.
This practice of lovingkindness is revolutionary because it has the power to radically change our lives, helping us cultivate true happiness in ourselves and genuine compassion for others. The discourses that follow show in that order the wretchedness of all anger and hate there is no righteous anger in the buddhas teaching. Here are some of our favorite quotes on lovingkindness. It is a fundamental teaching in buddhism and one that. But really, a metta practice need not be affiliated to any religion, culture or tradition, and although.
One interpretation of this verse is that the entire world is continually sustained by learning, intention and acts of lovingkindness torah, prayeravodah and gmilut chasadim. Lovingkindness in the king james version always represents this word 30 times, but of hecedh there are many other renderings, e. Loving kindness meditation for christians, by chelsea. Aug 12, 2018 metta bhavana buddhist loving kindness meditation is a technique that we use to create feelings of love and kindness, warm feelings that make your inner world a place of compassion. Create your own loving kindness meditation mindful minutes. In fact, the metta sutta is one of the buddhas most important teachings. She is the author of rethinking religion and has covered religion for the guardian, and other outlets. Metta can help us open the heart, respond with more gentleness, and be at ease with ourselves and others. There are many variations and translations of this prayer, but what follows is the essence of it.
Reflections the buddhas words on lovingkindness english page 3537 by amaravati sangha 2005 english audio, chanting chanting book 2006 morning and evening chanting puja, reflections, and suttas, as used by buddhist monasteries and groups associated with the western forest sangha in the lineage of venerable ajahn chah. This avoids the risk of arousing the near enemy of lovingkindness, that is, lust. The theravadin scholar acharya buddharakkhita said of metta, the pali word metta is a multisignificant term meaning lovingkindness, friendliness, goodwill, benevolence, fellowship, amity, concord, inoffensiveness and nonviolence. Lovingkindness is an english equivalent for the buddhist term metta, as described in the metta sutta of the pali canons sutta nipata sn 1. Loving kindness is the simple and clear intention of good will.
Lovingkindness quotes lovingkindness, or metta, is an important part of the buddhist path. Here is the scanned copy of the a manual of buddhist studies through the sacred book of buddhist chants palithaienglish translations. Just a word of caution, if you practice lovingkindness intensively, it is best to choose a member of the same sex, or if you have a sexual bias to your own sex then a person of the opposite sex. Based on talks given during a onemonth meditation retreat at gampo abbey, where pema lives and teaches, her teachings here focus on learning how to see the events of our lives as the perfect material for learning to. How to practice lovingkindness meditation buddhaimonia. In this inspiring book, sharon shows us how the buddhist path of lovingkindness can help us discover the radiant, joyful heart within each of us. Metta is the pali word that is most often translated as loving kindness. Aug 10, 2018 loving kindness meditation cultivating an open heart. Dec 11, 2016 all depends on having loving kindness toward each other.
Loving kindness meditation for christians, by chelsea forbrook. Salzberg exposes the warm beating heart at the center of buddhism. Due to file size, we separate into 2 different files for english. Jul 18, 2018 self love healing 432hz music for meditation ancient frequency music positive aura cleanse duration. Barbara obrien is a zen buddhist practitioner who studied at zen mountain monastery. Repeat the prayer over and over again for several minutes, feeling as though youre swaddled in lovingkindness. You may copy, reformat, reprint, republish, and redistribute this work in any medium whatsoever, provided that. It is the first of the four sublime states brahmaviharas and one of the ten paramis of the theravada school of buddhism. We show lovingkindness to others by wishing them to be well and happy. The word is derived from chacadh, meaning, perhaps, to bend or bow oneself, to incline oneself.
Whereas other types of mindfulness meditation encourage nonjudgmental awareness of experiences in the present moment by focusing on bodily or other sensorial experience, affective states, thoughts, or images, cm focuses awareness upon alleviation of the suffering of all sentient beings, and lkm upon loving and kind concern for their. The text from this chanting can be found on page 41 of chanting book volume. Metta is the pali word, maitri is the sanskrit word, literally translating to mean unconditional friendliness to oneself and others the practice is ancient and stems from the buddhist tradition of cultivating compassion. The buddhist metta lovingkindness prayer is simple but profound. Lovingkindness chesed practices and resources rabbi jill. We have all experienced moments of anger, harshness, judgement, and beating ourselves or others up. But pema chodron suggests that the best and most direct teacher for awakening lovingkindness is in fact your very own life. To be part of the sangha and be a true buddhist, i must be peaceful in my treatment of others, as well. Metta pali or maitri sanskrit means benevolence, lovingkindness, friendliness, amity, good will, and active interest in others. When you feel ready, substitute the name of the person you wish to forgive for the word i. However, although i repeat the sayings may they be well, may they be happy etc most of the time i dont feel any loving kindness rising in my body, and the few times that i do, it is very weak and doesnt seem to grow. The pali word metta is a multisignificant term meaning lovingkindness, friendliness, goodwill, benevolence, fellowship, amity, concord, inoffensiveness and nonviolence. Amazing book, and an amazing practice to take up too. An adapted buddhist lovingkindness meditation for christians.
New age journal reading salzbergs book produces the sense of having been gifted abundantly. Metta is a quality of heart that embraces life without conflict a deep friendship with life. This book clearly defines how to apply metta to every day life encouraging individuals to spread love by living with an open and wise heart. This meditation comes from the buddhist practice of loving kindness which is to focus positive thoughts towards others. Kevins knowledge of buddhism, the suttas and the practice of living in loving kindness are a timely gift. It is particularly helpful if you tend to have negative thoughts or reactions to others. The metta sutta is the buddhas discourse on developing and sustaining loving kindness. Loving kindness meditation soothes the mind and reduces subjective feelings of suffering. Jan 01, 1995 lovingkindness is a translation of the pali word metta, which is the first of the brahmaviharas, or the heavenly abodes. It starts by blessing oneself and gradually expands outward from there, eventually wishing good intentions for the entire world and all beings, even our enemies. The discourses that follow show in that order the wretchedness of all anger and hate there is no righteous anger in the buddha s teaching. This cultivation of lovingkindness is an essential part of buddhism. Apr 29, 2019 lovingkindness and compassion are the basis for wise, powerful, sometimes gentle, and sometimes fierce actions that can really make a difference in our own lives and those of others. Jan 23, 2016 loving kindness meditation is a popular zen meditation technique which is practiced to develop compassion towards oneself and for all living beings loving kindness meditation also boosts our overall wellbeing and when practiced regularly, enhances happiness and helps us gain a deeper understanding of the world in which we live.
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