Let’s talk about Loving Kindness today. It is a phrase that originates from the Sanskrit word “Maitri”. In Pali language it was called “Metta”. Loving Kindness practice is used to develop wishes for unconditional goodwill towards the object of the wish.
“I Want Everything For You and Nothing From You” that is loving-kindness. I believe Rumi may have said that phrase.
Qualities that facilitate the development of Loving Kindness include such qualities as being non-deceptive, sincere, easy to correct, gentle and without arrogance.
Why Loving Kindness? A peaceful world requires peaceful people. Angry people cannot bring peace. I am amazed when otherwise peaceful people are so agitated that they start violent acts in the name of demanding peace.
Ways we can develop Loving Kindness include patience, generosity, inclusiveness, forgiveness and playfulness.
Loving Kindness meditation is an intentional wish for other living beings to be happy.
So, we start by bringing attention to ourselves and contemplate:
May I be happy; may I be loved; may I be free from misery; may I be joyful.
Then we think of a person who is closest to us and contemplate:
May you be happy; may you be loved; may you be free from misery; may you be joyful.
Next, we think about someone who is not as close to us and contemplate:
May they be happy; may they be loved; may they be free from misery; may they be joyful.
And lastly, we think about all living beings and contemplate:
May we be happy; may we be loved; may we be free from misery; may we be joyful.