Compassion, empathy, and care for others seems to be a hot topic of late, at least in my little corner of the universe. For today\u2019s post I am simply borrowing some of that and bringing it together.<\/p>\n
First, from the wonderful Denis Wallez (you can find him<\/a>, this post<\/a>, and much more on G+<\/a>), is a collection of traditional sources on loving-kindness in Buddhism:<\/p>\n In Therav\u0101da\u2019s P\u0101li Canon,\u00a0mett\u0101<\/em>\u00a0(love [without clinging or possessiveness], loving-kindness, amity or benevolence)<\/strong>\u00a0is one of the four \u201csublime states of mind\u201d (or divine abodes,\u00a0\u00a0brahma-vih\u0101ras)<\/em>\u00a0recommended for cultivating interpersonal harmony and meditative concentration (I touched on being amicable to one\u2019s thoughts during meditation inhttp:\/\/gplus.wallez.name\/WtVLpWDe2wV<\/a>).<\/p>\n In later canonical work, mett\u0101 is one of ten \u201cperfections\u201d\u00a0(p\u0101ram\u012b)<\/em>\u00a0that facilitates the attainment of Awakening.<\/p>\n There are two known versions of the\u00a0mett\u0101 sutta:<\/em>\u00a0Karaniya mett\u0101 sutta (Sn 1.8) and Mett\u0101nisamsa sutta (AN 11.16). The first gives instructions while the second explains the benefits associated to\u00a0mett\u0101.<\/p>\n Sn 1.8<\/strong>: Think: Let no one deceive another or despise anyone anywhere, AN 11.16<\/strong>: Some advantages are: As interdependence would naturally suggest, there is no contradiction between loving others and loving oneself, it is thus not surprising that \u2018benefits\u2019 could be gained from opening one\u2019s heart to others.<\/p>\n Regrets, remorse and shame are not supportive of your meditation and liberation. Taking care of others will help them\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0yourself.<\/p>\n #Buddhism<\/a>#Dharma<\/a>#buddhistcircle<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 a great essay on the four \u201csublime states of mind\u201d by\u00a0Nyanaponika is at \u2022 The first excerpt is from the translation of Sn 1.8 by\u00a0Thanissaro: Next, NellaLou over at the Enlightenment Ward shared this excellent RSA<\/a> for a talk on \u201cOutrospection\u201d:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThis is to be done by one skilled in aims
\nwho wants to break through to the state of peace:
\n(\u2026)
\nDo not do the slightest thing that the wise would later censure.<\/p>\n
\nHappy, at rest, may all beings be happy at heart.<\/em>
\nWhatever beings there may be, weak or strong, without exception,<\/em>
\nlong, large, middling, short, subtle, blatant, seen & unseen, near & far,<\/em>
\nborn & seeking birth: May all beings be happy at heart.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nor through anger or irritation wish for another to suffer.
\n(\u2026)\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201c(\u2026) advantages are to be expected by familiarising oneself with thoughts of loving-kindness (metta), by the cultivation of loving-kindness, by constantly increasing these thoughts, by regarding loving-kindness as a vehicle (of expression), and also as something to be treasured, by living in conformity with these thoughts, by putting these ideas into practice, and by establishing them. (\u2026)\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 the mind can concentrate quickly;
\n\u2022 the countenance is serene;
\n\u2022 when the time comes, the practitioner dies without being confused in mind (which is key, for rebirth or for\u00a0nibb\u0101na).<\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.accesstoinsight.org\/lib\/authors\/nyanaponika\/wheel006.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.accesstoinsight.org\/tipitaka\/kn\/snp\/snp.1.08.than.html<\/a>
\nThe link also gives access to\u00a0four<\/em>\u00a0alternate translations (by \u00d1anamoli, Amaravati, Buddharakkhita and Piyadassi).
\n\u2022 The second excerpt is from the translation of AN 11.16 by\u00a0Piyadassi:
\nhttp:\/\/www.accesstoinsight.org\/tipitaka\/an\/an11\/an11.016.piya.html<\/a>
\nThe link also gives access to\u00a0one<\/em>\u00a0alternate translation by\u00a0Thanissaro.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n