The practice of lovingkindness (metta) brings many benefits. It makes the heart more responsive, brings about purification of mind, develops concentration, connects us to all beings, and brings happiness.
The deep knowing & living with impermanence is a gateway to freeing the mind – freeing the heart. The only thing that we can really know for sure is the constancy of change. It's the most basic fact of our existence. Nothing lasts…nothing stays the same. So paradoxically the only thing that we can hold onto is the intuitive insight of impermanence, which arises out of direct experience within our practice and eventually brings a great relief and lightness into our life. We no longer
need to haul around such a heavy load.
One aspect of Right view is understanding when wholesome and unwholesome mental qualities are present. The 7 factors instruct us in what to practice and how to practice.
Most of us have a strong habit of not measuring up to our idealized standards of who we would like to be. Understanding this habit with compassion and learning to skillfully work with it as practice can become a potent doorway to awakening.
