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.

This dharmette and guided meditation includes instruction on metta for the neutral being.

This dharmette and guided meditation includes instruction on metta for self.

This dharmette and guided meditation provides an introduction to the Brahma Viharas and metta practice, as well as guidance on metta for the "easy being."

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

This is an updated version of a talk given in 2022

Short Reflections and guided meditation

Metta als grundlegende Haltung mit der wir Menschen und Erfahrungen begegnen wirkt erfüllend und heilsam. Zahlreiche Personen aus allen spirituellen Traditionen weisen darauf hin. Durch die Mettameditationspraxis lässt sich eine solche Haltung von grundlegendem Wohlwollen in uns verankern, die wir unabhängig von Launen, Reaktionen, Emotionen in uns bewahren können. So wird diese Haltung zu einer Kraft, mit der wir auch bei verletzenden Erfahrungen die Orientierung bewahren können.

On this first day devoted to the practice of mettā, Gullu provides further elaboration to the morning instructions.

Circle of Benefactors

The natural world is a playground for the heart - where love/metta, compassion and joy can be experienced in abundance. Nature is a perfect environment to cultivate these innate heart qualities and where they can also arise effortlessly.

Instructions on how to work with the category of "dear friend"

In this talk, devon offers reflections on the importance of refuge in the Buddhist tradition and how deepening into refuge opens us to a stable sense of belonging, as well as building metta parami, the cultivation of love on the path.