Questions tagged [metta]
The metta tag has no usage guidance.
70
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What is the difference between 'compassion' and 'pity'?
This page of Dhamma Lists includes,
Four Brahma-viharas (Highest Attitudes/Emotions)
Heavenly or sublime abodes (best home). Near enemy is a quality that can masquerade as the original, but is ...
- 46.3k
8
votes
3
answers
752
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Should I limit the time I do metta?
Metta feels great. It is unconditional love on tap. So, could there be too much of it? It is addicting.
- 239
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4
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What does Buddhism say about dealing with negative people?
I live and work around a person (relative) whom is constantly negative in my life. He always belittles me about what I do, and whenever I succeed at something, he claims it was luck. When I fail at ...
- 517
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How can I become less affected by politics?
since I started my buddhist practice some five years ago, I have made great advancements. I think I've become much more accepting and loving towards others. I used to be cynical and arrogant and I ...
- 265
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How do we unconditionally love and wish people the best?
Deep down, I know there is a core that wants to love everyone for who they are. No matter who they are to me, the world, no matter how terrible of a person they are, no matter how much they make me ...
- 395
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How to view people with metta and karuna?
There are definitions of metta and karuna here: What are metta and karuna?
There's a metta-bhavana meditation.
I'm wondering how to practice these socially, though, e.g. as a lay person when talking ...
- 46.3k
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6
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How does metta sutra develop loving kindness
Metta sutra says "May all living beings be happy minded." This seems illogical to me as all living beings cannot be happy minded at a particular moment of time. I also feel that contemplating on ...
5
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5
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Conceptual reality, mettā, ignorance
According to some commentaries/abhidhamma, all unwholesome states are rooted in ignorance; that ignorance is, according to Pa Auk Sayadaw, the ignorance that sees things as concepts, e.g., a man a ...
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What is one's relationship with the world upon attaining Nirvana (and how do we work to get there)
There seems to be this ongoing debate both within the Buddhist Tradition itself and with the world-at-large as to how a practitioner should relate to the world. The Buddha himself forsook his family ...
- 327
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What *is* intrinsically real? Is the "unconditioned", "absolute", or "ultimate" intrinsically real?
To better see the relative, insubstantial nature of phenomena, maybe it is helpful to think about this another way, that is, seeing what is not relative, not conditioned, not empty.
It has been said ...
user8619
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Killer Neighbors
Namo Buddhaya!
My neighbor is a hardcore Christian & is a very nice man, the only thing is that he goes outside every once & a while with a water gun & kills insects (and even shoots ...
user16793
4
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5
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276
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I have some metta problem
I have personal problems with the metta practice. I would say may I/you be happy and I would go in this wish fulfilment mode. Imagining myself and others happy would create a jinni in the bottle ...
4
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2
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333
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Can loving kindness, compassion and sympathetic joy be developed through Vipassana meditation?
As far as I understand, Vipassana meditation trains attention and equanimity. Which makes sense because you are basically doing body scans all the time and remaining equanimous to bodily sensations, ...
- 271
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554
views
What's the role of altruism in Buddhism?
In discussions about how to translate words such as averena (a negation of some quality), I've seen two general kinds of answer: or the compound word is not just the negation of the suffix, but its ...
- 2,104
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Unfriendly and unapproachable faces - Metta Practices
I'm kind of curious, some people may have looked a little aloof and cold from the outside, and get commented on this too but deep down she/he isn't like this. She/he are probably just quiet and doesn'...
- 539
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578
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What is the view of Buddhism in correcting others' view in spite of their willingness to accept it?
I have these questions:
If an enlightened mind sees that helping someone is beneficial to them, then would they do it even when the helped doesn't proactively ask?
If they are hated by the helped, ...
- 645
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Does practicing Brahmavihara to get insights leads to Nibbana?
I read the books of Bhante Vimalaramsi that is using the practice of Brahmavihara to reach a state that is called Tranquil Aware Jhana and then to generate insights from the fourth rupa Jhana.
Has ...
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To hell with metta - how to understand AN4.125?
Quote from Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.125 Paṭhamamettāsutta:
Firstly, a person meditates spreading a heart full of love
[...]
If they abide in that, are committed to it, and meditate on it often without ...
- 61
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Metta Meditation
When we say the phrase may I be healthy may I be free from suffering? Isn’t that kind of not accepting where we are if we are suffering or in pain or not healthy? Can someone help me understand what ...
- 31
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How do I practice the Dhamma in an environment where it's not supported?
My parents, try to hinder my practice of the Dhamma by verbally & aggressively putting the Dhamma down to me, almost every day. They believe I am being "brainwashed" by monks I watch online or ...
user16793
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Does this statement by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu conflict with traditional mettā meditation?
I'm a beginner and I'm studying (and trying to practice) both meditation on breathing and mettā meditation, and in the book Anapanasati by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, which i'm following with some initial ...
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How to do metta for a long time (before sleep)?
Usually i do a short metta after vipassana - saying good wishes to myself than to someone close than to people i like lsess and less and in the end include all beings
i want to do metta before ...
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Civilization based on the teachings of Buddha
Would a civilization based on the teachings of Buddha ever had a need for military force? It is said in Metta Sutta that one who practices metta is free from dangers of fire, poison and weapons. Is ...
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Can homosexual monks or nuns ordain, if not WHY?
Namo Buddhaya!
(I am a Theravada Buddhist)
The Vinaya says monks & nuns cannot be together in private (it would be an offense).
But what if someone is a homosexual, how would they go about
...
user16793
3
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4
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171
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Are loving-kindness and compassion (metta and karuna) special kind of attachments?
To alleviate someone from suffering, Buddhism teaches one to practice mettā
karuṇā. But it seems to me that to thinking good about someone and wish them the best, we need to have a better version of ...
- 645
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242
views
How do I deal with Aversion?
I practice the Dhamma & I try hard to show loving-kindness, but I end up sometimes getting very mad at people or irritated.
I try Metta meditation, but is there anything else I can do to try and ...
user16793
3
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5
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112
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The Animal Plane & Evolution?
(Please Theravada perspective if possible)
NAMO TASSA BAGAVATO ARAHANTO SAMMA-SAMBUDDHASA (I am not fluent, forgive errors)
These are my following questions:
Do animals feel emotions just like ...
user16793
2
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4
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294
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The Justice Thought & System & its Morals?
Namo Buddhaya!
Here are my questions regarding justice systems & their morals:
Would it be skillful & moral to report someone to a principle, a police
officer, or any sort of authority ...
user16793
2
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7
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637
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How can one avoid the suffering after getting cheated?
Today I suffered severe disappointment because I thought I was cheated some amount of money. I couldn't complain to anyone because I had no proof. And I suspect those who cheated me will also cheat ...
- 4,358
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Fastest way to Samadhi
I have heard that Metta Meditation is the fastest way to a samadhi mind. How effectively fast is it? How is Metta properly cultivated as a meditation? As in how to develop the Vitakka Vicara on metta ...
- 1,233
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413
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metta, anxiety, and anger
I have been practicing mindful breathing for about one or two sittings a day, and done a few retreats. I have a big problem with metta, even directed at myself. after trying to practice metta I often ...
- 21
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120
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How to inculcate metta in me?
Metta was natural to me when I was young. I didn't give much thought to it then.
Now I find it difficult. So many thoughts come when I want to donate to charity like,
is it a recognized charitable ...
- 59
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Different approaches to Metta Meditation
I'm interested in learning more about Metta Meditation, and wondering if there are different approaches to this style of meditation.
I understand that the history of this practice is quite long, and ...
- 358
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4
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Resistance to Loving-Kindness
I have been continuing my meditation practice, and I feel there would be a great benefit from switching to a metta practice instead of breath. Yet, with metta, a strange phenomenon occurs.
I am ...
user7302
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3
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157
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How are metta and dana related?
In accord to Dhamma, What is appropriate to give oneself?
What is appropriate to give to others?
Does dana ever go to oneself? Could
oneself be seen impersonally as another that needs dana? ...
- 21
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Reconciling metta & avoiding fools/immoral people
The Buddha repeatedly said to avoid ignorant, immoral people as much as possible, but isn't this - at least a little - opposed to kindness? I associate kindness with being benevolent, caring & ...
- 2,560
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Metta towards a non-sentient entity or substance (e.g. rice)?
Is there a Buddhist tradition or practice, which involves developing or showing metta towards a non-sentient entity ... for example, towards a jar of rice?
If not, why not?
Is it theoretically ...
- 1,482
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47
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What is the best way to generate Metta
Buddha said that we should train ourselves in metta in the following way:
"Thus you should train yourselves: 'Our awareness-release through good-will will be cultivated, developed, pursued, ...
- 174
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218
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What are the different meditation types & how to do them?
I know there are many types of meditation, but can someone help clarify the following questions on meditation:
- What types of meditation is essential for the practice & why?
- How do those types ...
user16793
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4
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174
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Is it possible to exercise Metta to all or is Metta only a mental state only? If so how does one act to remain dispassionate?
Love, I mean the common one which cares only to the beloved and is indifferent to others, is accessible to many, but as I understand it this is the near enemy of Metta, not truly Metta. My question is ...
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I hate human beings how can I develop metta? [duplicate]
I don't like human beings because of their ego centric nature. They have destroyed nature- plants, species, morality, love, harmony etc. I just wish whole human species vanish or come to end. They ...
user10804
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A few quetions on metta
I was practicing metta meditation today and the thought came up: "What if your wish for happiness for one person (Person A) causes another to suffer indirectly (person B)?"
My understanding of the ...
- 471
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MN 122: Was the Buddha unsociable?
MN 122 says:
Ananda, there is this abiding discovered by the Tathagata: to enter
and abide in voidness internally by giving no attention to all signs.
If, while the Tathagata is abiding thus, he is ...
- 40.5k
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Responding to Worldly Questions
Namo Buddhaya!
People always ask "How are you?", "Isn't that beautiful/horrible", "You are so lucky/unlucky!", "Did you enjoy/like that", and so on.
How do I respond to these things in a way that ...
user16793
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5
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224
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what is the love described in Buddhism?
I heard from Buddhist monks love is "kamachannda" and definitly a "Klesha"(hindrance).When I analyze the definition of love in in Oxford Dictionary it states;
An intense feeling of deep affection(a ...
- 603
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💚Did the Buddha cover colorblindness in his teachings?
Is "Racial color blindness" covered in the Buddha's teaching? What would be the closest Buddhist concept that covers it? Is there a scripture that teaches colorblindness?
Could it have ...
- 7,144
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Anapanasati and Compassion
I'm wondering basically whether anapanasati can result in as much compassion as metta. Though the focus is different, can these two meditations have the same potential for altruism? Does meditating on ...
user7302
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1
answer
50
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Not doing anything
q:
Is not doing anything in a situation and just being mindful breaking
any of the precepts?
user16793
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1
answer
50
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Different lyings
Here are my questions:
Can lying be nonverbal? like in action?
Is cheating lying?
Is writing the wrong answer when you know the correct answer lying?
Is skipping the line cheating, ...
user16793
1
vote
1
answer
54
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Compassion's Unity
My question is two-fold.
First, I believe that metta is classified as a meditation object involving concentration. Yet, in this study, researchers suggest it is a mixture of focused attention (e.g. ...
user7302