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.
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness: Working with the Hindrances
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.
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness: Mindfulness of the Body
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 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.
