Forgiveness is a way of letting go of the past. We forgive ourselves and others for our own sake so that we can live without the burden of resentment or holding a grudge.

Mettā is a living quality that we embody in actions of body, speech, and mind towards all living beings

The basic qualities needed for cultivating and manifesting loving-kindness

What is meditation? Two main approaches of meditation: vipassanā & samatha

Mettā is an unconditional benevolence and friendliness for all living beings under all circumstances

How do we see the world, especially and social world, from the perspective of awakening--with, we might say, "dharma eyes"? We explore this question in a time of great turmoil and concern in the world, particularly in the U.S. We start with several passages coming from an awakened mind and heart, including a passage from the Metta Sutta--how would one then look at the larger world? We explore how the Buddha himself looked at the world and social structures, particularly in terms of caste and gender. From our practice seeing greed, hatred, and delusion in ourselves, we learn how to see these qualities in others, and in the world. From our ethical training, we learn how to see when we are not following the ethical guidelines and when others are not, including on a larger social level. We also see how we can understand some of the larger social issues, particularly related to the climate crisis, racism, and gender, in terms of greed (especially), hatred, and delusion. We close, in this context, first with a pointing to ways of responding, using Joanna Macy's model of three ways that the "Great Turning" occurs, and then with a poem.

We expand or awareness of our interconnectedness as humans when we practice Metta for both the "Neutral Person" and the "Difficult Person". Sometimes the Difficult Person can be ourselves. The end of this Guided Practice offers a compassion practice for oneself.

Our actions are often driven by unconscious or conflicting intentions. How can we align with wholesome intentions and cultivate wholesome mindstates? Based on the Dvedhāvitakkasutta the talk discusses the importance of renunciation, metta and compassion for the path and the transformation of the heart.

Teachings on how to practice metta for ourselves, including poetry by Jane Hirshfield and a story by Father Gregory Boyle. Guided practice in receiving care and sending love to our younger self.

With a heart full of metta, we can be at ease and at peace with ourselves and the world

The First Four Principles ~Settling Sit ~Teachings on Individualism and Community ~Teachings on the Six Principles of Cordiality ~Guided Meditation (Bio break- not recorded) ~Lightly Guided Meditation: Generosity and Metta ~Teachings on Metta (Lovingkindness) ~Teachings on Generosity ~Lightly Guided Meditation (Ritual - not recorded)

Metta must be manifested on all three levels: in deed, speech, and thought

Metta is one of the four Brahmaviharas or boundless states. A short description of the four Brahmaviharas

Metta: The Practice of Loving Kindness 2-hour practice period ('module'); includes instruction and guided and silent practice. One of four modules each day on the daily retreat theme, with Howard Cohn, Carla Brennan or Genevieve Tregor.

In this session, Donald gives about a 25-minute talk, followed by 15 minutes of discussion. How do we move from a week of metta practice into a time of turmoil and uncertainty in the U.S. and in the world? A number of guidelines and suggestions are given, including keeping the vision of practicing in all parts of one’s life, and keeping close the visions of awakening and of what Dr. King called the “beloved community.” In this time, staying connected with community is also crucial, as are, among many skillful intentions, practicing skillfully with difficult emotions, grounding in the body, cultivating cycles of engagement and withdrawal, and being careful about the amount of information one takes in. The talk ends by pointing to Joanna Macy’s model of three areas of transformation, and the invitation to respond to the call that each of us may hear. Discussion follows.

A talk on Metta / Lovingkindness and the power of love

On the birthday of Dr. King, we explore some of the remarkable and powerful parallels between Metta practice and Buddhist teachings, on the one hand, and the life, teachings, and work of Dr. King, on the other. We explore in particular three areas: (1) the connection between Metta and the Christian tradition of acting from love that is central for King; (2) the wisdom perspective of seeing greed, hatred, and delusion, and developing understanding and manifesting non-reactivity through ethical grounding and nonviolence; and (3) the other qualities of the awakened heart--the Brahmavihara for the Buddha, and Dr. King’s way of manifesting qualities in addition to love, such as compassion, empathy, joy, and equanimity.

In this guided meditation we expand the sphere of Mettā from Self, Benefactor and Friend to also include the neutral person. This is the person you do not know well or have any strong feeling for or against. The ancient texts describe this as the one that is neither loved nor unloved.

We start with naming two general contexts for metta practice: (1) metta is practiced along with the other three brahmavihara—compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity—and when mature integrates the other three; and (2) there are different ways of practicing metta. We then look at another main way of practicing, likely the way that the Buddha practiced—radiating metta. After a brief overview, we practice radiating metta first through a guided spatial expansion of radiating metta, from one’s own heart to the infinite expanse. Then we practice briefly a simple way of just letting metta radiate. After practice, there is discussion.

We start with a story and poem related to developing metta. Then there is an overview of the nature of metta and metta practice, and how the intention to manifest metta—good will, care, and a powerful friendliness—has many resonances with the core intentions of other spiritual traditions, often expressed in terms of manifesting love. We explore how we train in developing the intention to manifest metta and how we see what gets in the way. We look at several of the challenges of metta practice and how to work with them.

The initial instruction in Mettā practice using the phrases and working with the primary categories of benefactor & Self

Guided practice on the themes of mettā, gratitude, connectedness, and forgiveness

Guided meditation on metta for all beings.

Introduction and teachings on metta followed by a guided practice sending metta to a benefactor.

Metta stories, guided meditations...and sending well wishes to hyppopotamus.

Introduction to metta meditation practice followed by a gentle body scan.

00:19 Q1 What is the relationship between citta and yoniso manisikara? 05:27 Q2 Faith arises with the ability of the citta to realize the origins of suffering. Nekkhamma is the release anticipation of suffering [?]. Confusion arises here. The process of renunciation for the citta rather than thought. Is this the point where the felt sense doesn’t push forward or stand and enters the path? 08:45 Q3 After the high school shooting 96 km northwest of us that left 4 dead, we can feel the heat. False alarms on social media, another layer of community anxiety and mistrust arises. Our community is predominately black, transient, low income, familiar with violence. … How to step back and recognize the citta is unbalanced? How to avoid being too aggressive and suspicious? 11:12 Q4 How to skillfully investigate myself with a very challenging individual at work?13:01 Q5 When I started mediating 20 years ago I was taught that forgiveness was a preliminary practice to metta. This makes sense to me, especially with the deep groove of self-criticism I see in my mind. 13:56 Q6 I am chronically ill living a restricted and isolated life. It is a great joy but I feel remote from any attainment. Do you have any advice? 14:58 Q7 I recognize a form of vibhava tanha in nihilism that manifests as an inability to move forward in life. As I pondered this i came across a phrase : “Contemplate the dhamma body” and it felt so good.

A guided meditation on pervading the body and mind with metta (Loving-kindness)

The goal of offering metta for a difficult person, is not to change their behavior, but to make sure our hearts don't get colonized by the 3 poisons of greed, hatred and delusion. And for many of us, it's not Metta that is the gateway, but equanimity and compassion. After a 15 minute silent meditation, Booker sings Loosen by Ally Halpert as a lullaby.

A response to where we are in this time in our history when everything might seem a bit topsy turvy and upside down. The political commentator Melissa Harris Perry refers to this kind of confusion as trying to stand up straight in a crooked room. Many of us have been secluding, isolating, putting up walls as armour, as protection - in order to not feel the full catastrophe. Many of us are here because we’re ready to lay that armour down, to engage with life and be alive again. And so this afternoons reflections will be on how we can rest in Metta as refuge.

Recollecting my mentors, Gina Sharpe and Larry Yang.

Morning Instructions on the first foundation of mindfulness, centering the Karaniya Metta: the Buddha's Words on Loving Kindness.

Exploring refuge, presence and love as a journey to reclaim the sacred, touching on what we're doing on retreat (satisampajañña) and how to do it (with mettā).

The body is full of awareness. An exploration of metta as awareness and awareness as metta in the body.

Looking at the common tendency to turn regular practice into a duty or chore, and the importance of appreciating the benefits that come from meditation using the criteria of the ten pāramī ie generosity, ethical integrity, renunciation, wisdom, energy, patience, truthfulness, resolve and determination, mettā and equanimity

Beginning with the Buddha’s teaching of Anapanasati, a general guidance on mindfulness with the breath & how it carries mettā

The second talk in series - reflections on teachings from the Karaniya Metta Sutta