Loving-Kindness

Loving kindness or mettā is one of the four subjects of meditation called Brahma-vihāra, Divine Abidings. The practice of this meditation is explained in detail in Visuddhimagga. Those who want to practice this meditation seriously should follow the instructions given in that book. The practice given here is for those who want to practice it as one item in their daily spiritual practice.

Loving kindness or rather mettā is defined as that 'which is solvent, which adheres'. It can be likened to oil which people put in the engines. Nobody will drive his or her car if there is no engine-oil in it for fear that the car may be damaged, but seldom do people remember to put the oil of mettā in their relationships with other people; no wonder there is so much friction, so much abrasion in human relationships. If only people could put just a small amount of mettā in their relationships, a lot of unnecessary anger, hate, grudge, resentment and other undersirable results could have been avoided. Moreover, the practice of mettā can give us eleven benefits as declared by the Buddha:

1. One sleeps in comfort.
2. One wakes in comfort.
3. One has no evil dreams.
4. One is dear to human beings.
5. One is dear to non-human beings.
6. One is protected by deities.
7. Fire, poison and weapons cannot hurt him.
8. One's mind is easily concentrated.
9. The expression of one's face is serene.
10. One dies unconfused.
11. If one does not penetrate any higher, one will be reborn in the Brahma World.

To enjoy these benifits too we should practice loving-kindness.

The Practice of Loving-Kindness

By way of Location:

May I
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings in this house
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings in this area
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings in this city
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings in this country
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings in this world
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings in this universe
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings
be well, happy and peaceful.

By way of Persons:

May I
be well, happy and peaceful
May my teachers
be well, happy and peaceful
May my relatives
be well, happy and peaceful
May my freinds
be well, happy and peaceful
May the indifferent persons
be well, happy and peaceful
May the unfriendly persons
be well, happy and peaceful
May all meditators
be well, happy and peaceful
May all beings
be well, happy and peaceful

May suffering ones be suffering-free
And the fear-struck fearless be
May the grieving shed all grief
And all beings find relief