METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

[KellyRok]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

Hello all,

I too think it would be a great addition to our practice. I have read about Metta in Tricycle magazine and have been wanting to try it. I just wasn't sure how to get started...so thank you Jundo, I welcome the introduction.

Leland - thank you for sharing your bedtime Metta that you use with your child. I've been trying to come up with a similar practice to help my children express gratitude for all the people and love that we have in our life. Your post has inspired me and I'm going to write one of my own from your example.

one love and one heart,
Kelly Rok

[Shindo]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

Thanks Jundo

I think this is a wonderful daily practice to add to my regular sitting & God knows with some of the people I work with I need it

Zencast also advocates this practice and some of the talks and guided Metta meditation can be found here:

http://www.zencast.org/?search_string=m ... h&search=1

Kind regards

Jools

[Al]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

I've had some really positive experiences with this practice and I'm so glad we're exploring it here at Treeleaf!

Thanks for the Zencast link, Jools. I like to listen to podcasts on my way to work.

[Shindo]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

No problem - if you like those podcasts you will like these

http://www.audiodharma.org/

You can also find these on iTUNES

Kind regards

Jools

[will]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

Jools. Thank you for posting the podcast.

I use this Metta practice (method 1), which is pretty much the same as what Jundo posted:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el365.html
(A extensive article about Metta)

Gassho

[TracyF]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

Love is action. When you practice loving-kindness, you are the first person to benefit from this practice.

http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=5h1sHVOJbwM

[AlanLa]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

I have been aware of metta practice for some time, but only dabbled in it. Interestingly, my life is at a point where metta, as a practice, seems appropriate. So here I go...

I like method 1, Will. Thanks. The wording seems to flow a little better than in Jundo's version.
Sorry, Jundo.

[lora]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

...blissful light, with a Chenrezig on the tip of each ray, streams out of you and touches each and every sentient being--those whom you like, those whom you don't, and those you don't know. When this glowing light touches each sentient being, it performs two functions: it purifies them of their negativities, and it inspires them to realize all the stages of the path to enlightenment. We may start imagining the light touching the beings in the room and gradually spreading out to those in the area, the country, the continent, the world, and the universe. Or we can start with our friends and family, then radiate light to strangers, and finally to those who have harmed us or of whom we're afraid. Or, we can first radiate light to human beings, then animals, hungry ghosts, hell beings, demi-gods, and gods. We can use our creativity and imagination when doing this visualization. Each meditation session can have a different emphasis.

It's very easy to love sentient beings in a general way. But it's more effective to be specific in our visualizations. Send light to the guy who cut you off on the highway. Send light to the IRS employee who questioned your tax return. Send light to the terrorist who thinks that killing others in the name of God will cause him to be reborn in heaven. Send light to government leaders who think that bombing others solves problems. Send light to your teenager who leaves his room a mess and gets mad when you comment on it. Send light to specific people you know and care about, people who are having problems, strangers, and people you don't like. Send it to hospitals, the Middle East, the inner cities, and Beverly Hills. There's suffering everywhere. The light frees sentient beings from their suffering.

--from Cultivating a Compassionate Heart: The Yoga Method of Chenrezig by Thubten Chodron, foreword by H.H. the Dalai Lama, published by Snow Lion Publications

Many blessings,
Lora

[roky]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

as may have been previously pointed out, basic awareness(zazen) is considered by some to be a pure form of metta -- twas thaddeus golas(lazy man's guide to enlightenment), for instance, who pointed out that it is a willingness to be aware of whatever "is" that is the most basic form of love -- that is, if we have co-created this all, then it is a willingness to be present with our creation -- and rejecting any of it, denying it, is self-hate -- ithis does not mean passively agreeing with it, it is appropriate to take action -- if you are unwilling to conceive of dangerous people, however, you will probably bump into them alot

in its least new-agey form, awareness is simply "attention" -- anyone who has worked with the profoundly developmentally disabled, has seen the effect of simple attention -- or with a child -- what we all want, as social beings, is attention, and its most potent form, touch -- for this reason, the old technique of "timing out" is effective, much more effective than negative touch(hitting)

another form of attention: respect -- when you are acknowledged, with no manipulation -- as in "gassho"

and, of course, samu, as we go about our work with a caring attitude -- when i'm sanding the boat in hot sun, sweat running off me, onto the paint, beginning to want to be elsewhere, thats resistance -- when i note that, just come back to the sanding motion, no time, thats love -- think stephen levine called the technique "soft-belly"

as thaddeus pointed out, then, the "technique" is "no resistance" -- whatever comes up, note it(not literally), and move on(no choice, anyway!) -- we might then call zazen an "unfocused" metta -- what is referred to as "metta" is powerful in that it is focused, not choiceless, awareness -- we somewhat more aggressively focus that awareness to open our heart towards that which we have previously resisted, to attain a certain goal -- but therein also lies its weakness -- which is why i think both forms of attention, both unfocused(zazen), and focused(metta) are helpful, in balance

imho

gassho, bob

[Jundo]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

...blissful light, with a Chenrezig on the tip of each ray, streams out of you and touches each and every sentient being--those whom you like, those whom you don't, and those you don't know. When this glowing light touches each sentient being, it performs two functions: it purifies them of their negativities, and it inspires them to realize all the stages of the path to enlightenment.

Thank you, Lora. I had to do a bit of research to realize that "Chenrezig" is Avalokiteshvara, also known as, Kannon Bodhisattva!

From an absolute point of view, Chenrezig is without origin; he exists primordially. However, there is a beginning of his manifestation in the physical realm.

Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light who reigns in the Land of Bliss, one day conceived that in order to help beings a deity in the form of a young man should be manifested. His right eye then emitted a beam of white light that took the form of Chenrezig. ... Chenrezig's body then emitted six beams of light that produced emanations whose destiny was to act for the benefit of all in each of the six realms of being: humans, gods, demigods, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell beings.

He thus worked for many eons. Then one day, he looked with the eye of knowledge from the top of mount Meru, the center of the Universe, to see if he had liberated many beings and if the number of beings in samsara (cyclic existence) had diminished. Alas, he saw that they were still innumerable.

He was very sad. Being discouraged, he thought, "I do not have the capability to help beings; it is better that I rest in nirvana (liberation from cyclic existence)."

This thought contradicted his promise, and he burst into a thousand pieces and felt intense suffering.

Amitabha, by the power of his grace, reconstructed the body of Chenrezig. He gave him eleven faces and a thousand arms similar to the thousand spokes of the universal monarch's wheel and a thousand eyes, symbolic of the thousand buddhas of the present kalpa. Chenrezig could henceforth help the beings in this form as well as with his other forms of two or four arms. Amitabha asked Chenrezig to take his promise with still more vigor than before and then transmitted to him the six syllable mantra: OM MANI PADME HUNG.

Oh, those Tibetans know how to tell it, baby! They are just so much more colorful than we are. Makes me want to burst into a thousand pieces! Tonight, I offer Metta to Ven. Thubten Chodron.

as may have been previously pointed out, basic awareness(zazen) is considered by some to be a pure form of metta -- twas thaddeus golas(lazy man's guide to enlightenment), for instance, who pointed out that it is a willingness to be aware of whatever "is" that is the most basic form of love

One historical danger in Buddhist practice arises from the perspective tasted whereby, in emptiness and in dropping all divisions, there is no "victim", no "victimizer" and no possibility of harm or violence. So, this leads to the conclusion that we "save all sentient beings" by realizing that there are no sentient beings with a "self" in need of saving. Thus, everybody is "saved" from the outset!

Over the centuries (and with many many exceptions), this led to an attitude of withdrawal and indifference to social injustice and suffering in this world and body (after all, according to some schools of Buddhism, this world is supposed to embody suffering ... and the point of Buddhism is to be freed from this world, not to repair this world).

Social engaged Buddhism is rather a response to all that.

Gassho, Jundo (beaming rays of Chenrezig to all of you)

[AlanLa]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

I found this on moonpointer,com and thought it a great description of the metta developing porcess:

Imagine spending your life in a little room with only one locked window so dirty it barely admits any light. You'd probably think the world was a pretty dim and dreary place, full of strangely shaped creatures that cast terrifying shadows against the dirty glass as they passed your room. But suppose one day you spill some water on the window, or a bit of rain dribbles in after a storm, and you use a rag or a corner of your shirtsleeve to dry it off. And as you do that, a little of the dirt that had accumulated on the glass comes away. Suddenly a small patch of light comes through the glass. Curious, you might rub a little harder, and as more dirt comes away, more light streams in. Maybe, you think, the world isn't so dark and dreary after all. Maybe it's the window.

You go to the sink and get more water (and maybe a few more rags), and rub and rub until the whole surface of the window is free of dirt and grime. The light simply pours in, and you recognize, perhaps for the first time, that all those strangely shaped shadows that used to scare you every time they passed are people - just like you! And from the depths of your awareness arises an instinctive urge to form a social bond - to go out there on the street and just be with them. In truth, you haven't changed anything at all. The world, the light, the people were always there. You just couldn't see them because your vision was obscured. But now you see it all, what a difference it makes! This is what, in the Buddhist tradition, we call the dawning of compassion, the awakening of an inborn capacity to identify with and understand the experience of others.

- The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret & Science of Happiness

[jaypiddler]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

.

[Sunshine]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

Being a very visual person, I have used (am using) a method by Ayya Khema. She suggests imagining a soft yellow light radiating from within. That light is metta. The yellow color, warm and friendly, induces metta within ourselves. The yellow light grows as we become more comfortable and moves out of ourselves to emcompass our family, friends, aquaintances, etc. until we have infused the universe with that yellow glow. It is very peaceful and relaxing and after the meditation I have more love for myself and others.

Peace,

Sunshine

[Jundo]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

Hi All,

I will be introducing a suggested daily Metta Practice during next week, which I will recommend we all try daily (there's sure no harm in that!! ). With all the other things on our plate for the Jukai, Rakusu sewing, etc., I have waited a bit.

Anyway, please look for that in the coming week. Gassho, Jundo

[CinnamonGal]

Re: METTA PRACTICE (BETA VERSION)

Thanks Jundo,

I am going to give it a try keeping your instructions in mind . I like the formulations a lot, especially the "with ease" part.

Meta,

Irina