Lesson for mindfulness - part 18

Chapter Four: Metta (Loving-Kindness)

Metta on mindfulness

Battaramulla
Siri Sudassanarama sadaham senasuna
Ven. Dr. Mirisse Dhammika thero

Just like space And the great elements such as earth May I always support the life Of all the boundless creatures.
- Ancient scriptures –

Introduction

In the previous chapter, I explored profound Buddhist meditation, both its theory and practice. In particular, I explained the method of practicing the breathing and walking techniques and contemplation on actions, feelings, mind and mental objects to arouse mindfulness.

In this chapter, I am going a further step from being aware of the state of mind to what we could do about it or how we could train our mind to go to the next step. For this purpose, I will explore the metta or “loving-kindness” mediation.

In comparing metta with mindfulness, it should be noted that mindfulness mediation is the basis for metta or any other kind of mediation technique. Without having mindfulness or total awareness one cannot

concentrate properly on any object or action. Therefore, mindfulness is the prerequisite for tall forms of mediation.

It is a common human experience that our relationships with other people, with animals, with our own thoughts, are often married by resentment etc.

From inner tensions come tensions with those around us; and we also store up the charge of outer tensions as inner tensions. Loving Kindness warms up and opens out the heart, in aspiration for the happiness of all beings, starting with oneself, thus working directly on such inner tensions. Any degree of loving-kindness practice is very beneficial, for the seeds of this quality are already latent in the ‘brightly shining mind’ which is the unconscious resting-state of the mind.

Apart from mindfulness, the children practice “Metta or Loving-Kindness” every Sunday in their mediation sitting in Sunday school.

First, one student recites the designed metta from while other students concentrate on the reciting student’s voice, after that all the students concentrate on loving-kindness for five to ten minutes. This helps students to clear their attitude in relationships with others;

relationships with parents, family members, teachers, friends and even unfriendly people, a hard part of life as many have experienced.

There is a very important matter here that is nurturing humane feelings of love and compassion among my Sunday school students. This harmonious attitude of metta helps them not only during their time at Sunday school but also at regular school.

I will discuss the metta or loving-kindness meditation technique, and its profound descriptions and experience with my Sunday school students in this chapter.