Metta meditation

betaboy

Namaste,

I find it hard to practice metta meditation because it's hard to be loving toward people who hurt you. Or, is it also okay to practice metta meditation by showing compassion toward the ones you love (such as the poor, needy etc.)?

Please advise.

BB

SattvaPaul

I've heard it said that you should start metta with yourself. Then you extend it to people that are close to you.

driedleaf

Try to imagine if you didn't exist. What importance is their hate for you? It's just one more defilement that they have to deal with.

with metta

Dazzle

Hi Betaboy,

There are some instructions and resources for metta meditation here:

http://www.buddhanet.net/metta.htm

There's also a talk from Ajahn Sumedho - "Metta for all conditions "

http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/10/talk/3679/

with kind wishes,

D.

Kundo

Namaste Betaboy,

As mentioned by @sattvapaul, it is best to approach Metta meditation by focusing on showing loving kindness to yourself. Then you can extend that to family, friends and people you like. Then focus on people you neither like or dislike. Only then should you attempt to focus on those you don't like or have hurt you.

@Dazzle has provided some good links too.

I have been practising Metta meditation for some time now and I still have issues sending Metta to those who hurt me or who I don't like. It's not an easy practise.

In metta,
Raven

Ch-an_noob

It really works at reducing anger!