Does metta actually work

[Matt]

Hi Greg,

In addition to all the advice on metta, if you are experiencing mental health issues and depression on an ongoing basis, I would highly recommend finding a mental health professional. (Just google for therapists in your city and call one, if you aren't doing so already. Or pm me and I would be glad to help you find someone.)

While Zen practice is of course foundational, a number of us may experience mental health issues that are best addressed by professionals through therapy or medication.

Best of luck to you.

Gassho,
Matt
#SatToday

[Jundo]

Hi Greg,

In addition to all the advice on metta, if you are experiencing mental health issues and depression on an ongoing basis, I would highly recommend finding a mental health professional. (Just google for therapists in your city and call one, if you aren't doing so already. Or pm me and I would be glad to help you find someone.)

While Zen practice is of course foundational, a number of us may experience mental health issues that are best addressed by professionals through therapy or medication.

Best of luck to you.

Gassho,
Matt
#SatToday

Oh yes! The usual advice here on such matters ...

... I suspect that Shikantaza ... in its quietness, in the total stillness and acceptance ... would be something helpful with depression, especially the kind involving "overthinking" dark thoughts ...

BUT AT THE SAME TIME ... Zazen is -NOT- a cure for many things ... it will not fix a bad tooth (just allow you to be present with the toothache ... you had better see a dentist, not a Zen teacher), cure cancer (although it may have some healthful effects and make one more attune to the process of chemotherapy and/or dying), etc. Zen practice will not cure your acne on your face, or fix your flat tire. All it will do is let one "be at one, and whole" ... TRULY ONE ... with one's pimples and punctured wheel, accepting and embracing of each, WHOLLY WHOLE with/as each one. There are many psychological problems or psycho/medical problems such as alcoholism that may require other therapies, although Zen can be part of a 12-Step program or such (a few Zen teachers in America with a drinking problem had to seek outside help). Same with lingering depression. My feeling is that some things are probably best handled by medical, psychological or psychiatric treatment, not Zen teachers.

My feeling is that receiving outside treatment, medication AND "just sitting" can all work together.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?10562-SIT-A-LONG-with-Jundo-Even-Buddhas-Get-the-Blues

Gassho, J

More here ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?11737-Depression-and-Hope&p=117020&viewfull=1#post117020

and here ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?10562-SIT-A-LONG-with-Jundo-Even-Buddhas-Get-the-Blues

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Ongen]

Dear Greg,

Metta works for the one sending it for sure. If it works for the one 'receiving it' if it is someone other than oneself in a 'magical' kind of way? I do not now. I've read recent research that proves that thought / brainwaves actually influence particles around the thinker. (will try to find that research again) I've also read about that a particle that's split in half, one half on this side of the world and the other half on the other side of the world, behaves still like one single particle. Both findings suggest that there is perhaps no reason why sending metta would not actually work for someone far away.

Also the Double Slit experiment suggests what zen buddhists have been saying for a long time, there really is no separation until separation is observed (and even then there's no real separation). If there's no separation, there's no distance or difference between sender and receiver.
As I stated before: Metta works for the one sending it for sure. No reason not to do it



Gassho,


Ongen / Vincent
Sat Today