Proper way to give metta
Upvote:1
Maybe send metta to the pain, try to truly accept the pain as it is and if you can't accept the pain then you can try to truly accept that you can't accept the pain at that time and that could lead to peace.
Upvote:3
Different lineages / teachers would advice on this differently. My answer is based on what I picked from different teachers.
Before doing metha best to to do a bit of breath meditation and insight meditation. Come to the stage that you have Piti or Passaddhi or at least you feel comfortable. Then wish that other share your peace and happiness. Keep wishing your self and others to be well and happy. Ideally keeping your attention around your mouth. Lips touching or above the upper lip and base of your nose. Also try to bring out a mild smile (this generally relaxes tension) as this will influence your mood. Also in the process if possible try to calm the fabrications, i.e., realise the speed and length of your breath from start to end.
This should not a mere recitation of words. You should wish from the bottom of your heart. In the process uproot your defilements to make your mind pure.
One of the objective of Metta Bhavana is the reduce the defilements based on aversion, dissolving ego as well as the hindrance of ill will, especially towards other beings. So you should be mindful when doing it that aversion does not arrive and also you are not in any discomfort as this also sometimes lead to aversion and tension (which intern creates new unwholesome fabrication and conditioning). Doing this after breath meditation and awareness meditation can help the cause in identifying 1) defilements arising based on aversion 2) any hidres arising due to enmity or any pre conceived notion of the person. Always be aware of the metal factors arising during the meditation and if they are unwholesome try to tame them by being aware that they have arisen and the sensations they bring up and then the dissolution of it.
Also when you think of some one keep a note of how thoughts proliferate and what feeling this brings up. You think about a friend you might then remember some other incident with them. All this creates feeling and sensations when you react to them. Try to be equanimus. Similarly when you think about a foe or even an attractive person. Also then you think about animals or other life forms, you might experience emotion, feelings and sensations. Suddenly you might remember a rat who ate your favorite piece of furniture. Or the fear of a snake when you think of this type of animals, or the disease they spread if it is a c**kroach or rat. Then these thoughts arise you mind make a contact followed by reaction and sensation. Keep focused on this element. The sensation this causes trying the be equanimous about the sensation and realising the sensations have the 3 marks of existence. Also notice how your are reacting or sensation that are created with perception of an entity / being. Look at the feeling when you recall incident or people who attacked your ego or what ever you call me, mine, etc. and realise how ego is hurting you. Also realise how your react when remeber someone praises you or has been benevolent to you. Also look at how perceptions about an entity / being also contributing to stress in the process. Look at mental image -> recognition -> reaction -> sensation -> craving -> clinging ... Try to see the dependent origination, factors of enlightenment and 4 noble truths at work even through Metta meditation. When practiced in the right way Metta can take you far.
Meditation based on the Four Sublime States help expand upon the type of defilements which to reduce through these meditations.
If you feel any discomfort take this into awareness while radiating Metta. Keep your attention on these parts which hurt. Also be mindful of perspiration while doing it.
Also refer to:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mett%C4%81
- http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/scrn_metta.pdf
- http://www.dhammasukha.org/metta-barebones-booklet.html (very good guide)
- http://www.dhammasukha.org/forgiveness-meditation.html (very good guide)
- http://www.dhammatalks.org/mp3_guidedMed_index.html
- http://www.vridhamma.org/en1992-02
- http://www.vridhamma.org/en2008-08
- In simple words, how are body sensations linked to moods and feelings? (Un related but helpful in advance stages of any meditation)
More post
- 📝 What is the most “genuinely Buddhist” kind of mindfulness?
- 📝 What Pali term most closely represents the concept of "inner conflict"?
- 📝 Buddhadasa and the continuity of suffering beyond physical death, without rebirth
- 📝 How similar or different is Tantric Buddhism from Vijnana Bhairava of Kashmir Shaivism?
- 📝 Is Jhana Required For Awakening?
- 📝 What Buddha's techniques I can use to uproot deep craving for a woman's love?
- 📝 Can anyone follow Buddhism if the person has had drinks & ate non-veg in the past?
- 📝 Which Living Ajahns are considered to be Arahants today?
- 📝 Is observing the five precepts a gradual training?
- 📝 How do you know if you have attained Nibbana?
- 📝 Did the Buddha ever mentioned what is the cause for having lovers / marriage?
- 📝 5th precept missing from 8fold Path?
- 📝 If there's no "self" then why should I care about the future lives and nirvana?
- 📝 How do you properly practice the more abstract precepts?
- 📝 Annoyed by nasal congestion and hyper-salivation during meditation?
- 📝 Constant mindfulness hard to achieve
- 📝 Not understanding Jhana Mastery Of Reflection?
- 📝 A beginner facing Culadasa
- 📝 What types of physical dwellings are most conducive for Buddhist lay life living?
- 📝 Does a Buddha see the heart objectively?
- 📝 Do meditative "exercises" and "mental workouts" enhance the ability to reach enlightenment?
- 📝 What raised mudra is depicted on the Buddha rupa at the London Peace Pagoda and what does it mean?
- 📝 Which are the best Thai amulets for love, job, and career?
- 📝 What are the texts that contain words which can be attributed directly to the Buddha?
- 📝 Self like a diamond
- 📝 Why does/would a "Bodhisattva" burdens himself and instigate others as well?
- 📝 Normal Deep Breathing vs Buddhism Basic Meditation
- 📝 Where did the Buddha teach about the "flow of tears"?
- 📝 Is Mahasi Sayadaw's "counterfeit dhamma"?
- 📝 Is it possible to abandon desire by means of desire
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Proper way to give metta
- 📝 Proper way to address a bhikkhu?
- 📝 What is the proper way to foster generosity and gratitude?
- 📝 Proper way to ask a teacher to become their student
- 📝 What is the best way to generate Metta
- 📝 Proper way of offering
- 📝 Should one give to beggars?
- 📝 Can Buddhism be viewed as a threat to the capitalist way of life?
- 📝 What is the proper understanding of "taking refuge" in Buddhism?
- 📝 Why can't we reason or logic our way to NIrvana?
- 📝 Do metta practices and anatta contradict each other?
- 📝 What is the buddhist way of responding to compliments?
- 📝 Metta for dead father
- 📝 What is the best way to practice humility
- 📝 Can Buddhism give any justification for military violence?
- 📝 Is there a way to wipe out ones Karma?
- 📝 Is suspending judgement a way to avoid wrong view?
- 📝 Why is Metta Practice so Hard?
- 📝 New to metta meditation
- 📝 What is the difference between learning the Buddhist way and simply learning from life?
- 📝 How much does the Bodhisattva way influence Theravadan practices?
- 📝 Is there a way to help us remember our previous life?
- 📝 Should Buddhists give their time to helping others?
- 📝 Is the only way to deal with the effects of your bad karma endurance?
- 📝 Can Metta make you likable?
- 📝 Before Buddhism, was there a way to escape from samsara?
- 📝 Best way to develop different meditation practices (simultaneously or not)
- 📝 How to view people with metta and karuna?
- 📝 What is a skillful way to meditate in the midst of a migraine headache?
- 📝 Why is there even a way to the end of suffering?