How to practice Metta without a Benefactor?
Upvote:-1
Why it is difficult to spread metta? Because our mind is not ready to do it. Correct metta meditation is not difficult. According to Buddhist teaching, spreading metta to oneself is never taught taught in 'Sutta' or 'Abhidhamma Pitaka'. Because one can't reach measureless state with metta by spreading metta to oneself. Measureless states are the doors to nibbana as Load buddha has Taught us.
Before spreading metta, one must have good qualities, as mentioned in 'karaneeya metta sutta'. Good qualities such as Upright, Exceedingly upright, obedient, gentle and humble, controlled in the senses, prudent, courteous, not hanker after associating with families are meditated and determined before spreading metta. It is a bit complicated at the beginning and later it would become a great platform and make a comfortable position for a meditater to start spreading metta easily. Guided meditation is described in this link - How to meditate metta dhamma talk.
Upvote:1
A benefactor is not necessary. You can pratice Metta using categories which is the way to pratice Metta without a benefactors. E.g. All beings, all being in front of me, etc. There are 22 such categories in PaisambhidΔ-Magga.
One objective of Metta Bhavana is to dissolve ego and break down perception and this is my friend and someone is my fore. If some one is better off than you chances is there is some inner resistance to practice Metta or Muditha towards him. If you believe someone has wronged you then the chances are that it will be difficult to spread Metta.
As you progress try to break down negative perception you have build about people. Also look at the impact on other aggregates as you practice Metta. Look at the sensations as you make thoughts off Metta.
Also "A Practical Bare-Bones guide to Metta Meditation" by Bhante Vimalaramsi may be of interest. Page 85, Knowing and Seeing 4th Ed by Pa Auk Sayadaw
Upvote:7
You don't need a benefactor to practice that type of metta; you just need someone who is dear to you; it just shouldn't be someone you could potentially desire sexually, or whom you are partial towards, like your children.
The stages, according to the Visuddhimagga are as follows:
- cultivate metta towards yourself (useless, but a good example)
- cultivate metta towards someone you hold dear
- cultivate metta towards a neutral party
- cultivate metta towards someone you dislike (optional, only for those who have such a person)
Having someone dear to you seems important, as there is no advice given for what to do if such a person does not exist. Ostensibly, you could skip that step and try to immediately cultivate metta towards a neutral party, but the dear one is useful for returning to when difficulty arises with the other objects.
Alternatively, you could try cultivating metta in order of proximity; may I be happy, may all beings in this room be happy, this building, this city, this country, this world, the universe. Also, by direction; may all beings to the East be happy, etc. Or finally, by class: may all women be happy, men, animals, angels, etc.
Mahasi Sayadaw has a detailed exposition of the four brahmaviharas that is both practical and informative:
http://static.sirimangalo.org/mahasi/Brahmavihara%20Dhamma.htm
As he says,
"MettΔ can also be developed towards any other person deserving of affection and respect, if not towards your teacher, grand-parents, mother, father and so on."
More post
- π Where did the Buddha teach about the "flow of tears"?
- π What is the deep sound that buddhist monk make during meditation called
- π Are there any alternative formulations of the five skandas?
- π Who sings Om mani padme hum mantra?
- π What was the first Buddhist text to be translated into English?
- π Sunyata and Void. How can be the void without a super consciousness?
- π I believe I have done bad things in a past life can I fix my curse that causes people to turn against me what kind of Karma is this?
- π Do monks have big ups and downs in their life?
- π Buddhism and Evolution
- π Euthanasia and Buddhism
- π Is there any canonical descriptions of the physical characteristics of the Buddha?
- π Dejection and Sensuality
- π What if a course lacks a proper introduction to Buddhist philosophy?
- π Is it true that whatever is subject to cessation is subject to origination?
- π What are the toughest thoughts to 'catch'?
- π Is it better to be born with health, wealth, beauty and intelligence or not taking birth in this miserable and temporary world at all?
- π Buddhist Equivalent to Prayopavesa (resolving to die through fasting)
- π Mutually Exclusive Approaches
- π What are some entertaining/fictional movies, books, etc. about Buddhadharma or Buddha himself?
- π Vajrayana VS theravada - after death theories - do they contradict each other?
- π Can I meditate while lying on my back?
- π All kammas have to be experienced or not?
- π Significance of Bhikkhus uncovering their right shoulder
- π The terror tragedy in France in Buddhist light
- π What is Direct Seeing?
- π How much faith do you need to become a buddhist?
- π Theravada Monks and meat in daily meals
- π What is before spring?
- π Anybody know what is Nirvana and where we can find it?
- π How does one experience or understand the experience of others?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π How to practice Metta without a Benefactor?
- π How to determine the end of a meditation session without a clock?
- π How does one practice mindfulness during thinking - e.g. thinking about how to solve a problem?
- π Can I practice Buddhism without meditating?
- π How To Keep Loving Without Reward?
- π When and how should someone practice Patikulamanasikara meditation (reflections of replusiveness)
- π How can there be Happiness without suffering?
- π How do I integrate Vipassana practice into daily life?
- π How to Practice Vipassana?
- π Why is Metta Practice so Hard?
- π How To Follow Buddhism Without Offending
- π Meditation - how to practice it?
- π How does one Practice Sila?
- π How are Buddhist Sacred Texts used in practice and historically, given the questioned authenticity of some of them
- π How does one practice Buddhism when experience is limited by the 6 senses?
- π Without an enduring quid between lifes, how to explain past life recalling?
- π How to discipline self to practice meditation everyday?
- π How to view people with metta and karuna?
- π How we can develop metta for terrorists?
- π How to remove dullness of mind, without sitting meditation, in regular activity?
- π How to practice mindfulness during job hours
- π How does metta sutra develop loving kindness
- π How can I talk to my mother (who idle-chatters) without getting angry?
- π How to practice mindfulness
- π How to practise without having aversion towards life?
- π How does one know that he's reached a Jhana level in Metta meditation?
- π How to get back to practice after "falling" from it?
- π What is Metta-BhavanaΒ and how does one practice it?
- π How to do metta for a long time (before sleep)?
- π How do I practice the Dhamma in an environment where it's not supported?