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52 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

Practices to Open the Heart

The practices taught by the Buddha benefits accruing from the practice
as the four Brahmavihāras or of mettā as enunciated in Mettā From these, it is obvious that
sublime states of loving kindness, Sutta (AN 11.16), none of which can attachment to animate or inanimate
compassion, empathetic joy, and corroborate your premise. objects is not a deterrent for the
equanimity, are common in all practice of mettā which is basically
Buddhist traditions. They are said One sleeps easily, wakes easily, kindness and goodwill towards
to be excellent, lofty and divine or dreams no evil dreams. One is others in thought, word and action.
abodes of the gods (brahmas). They dear to human beings, dear to However, its quality may vary
are the ideal way of conduct towards non-human beings. The devas depending on its purity as I shall
living beings in all situations arising protect one. Neither fire, poison, explain below.
from social contact. They are also nor weapons can touch one. One’s
the great removers of tension, mind gains concentration quickly. Min Wei: For most people, the
the great peace-makers in social One’s complexion is bright. One dies practice of loving-kindness towards
conflict, and the great healers of unconfused and—if penetrating no one’s spouse, children, relatives or
wounds suffered as we sojourn in higher—is headed for a Brahmā friends is assumed much easier to
saṃsāra. Eastern Horizon asks our world. be achieved compared to generate it
teachers from the three Buddhist to all sentient beings. In Buddhism,
traditions how these sublime states The practice of mettā is also so called love with attachment,
should be understood and practiced, considered one of the four guardian discrimination, prejudice, or
especially for the lay practitioners. meditations in the commentaries, clinging is not genuine love. We
obviously based on some of the should in the first place to be kind
The idea of practicing loving above benefits as well as on Satti to ourselves, and gradually extend it
kindness (Skt. maitrī/Pāli mettā) Sutta (SN 20:5). Here the Buddha for the well-being of all beings.
equally with everyone is to declared that a non-human being
develop a sense of impartiality. would be unsuccessful in trying In practicing loving-kindness, it
For a monastic, this is the to derange the mind of one who is displays the fact that we care for
motivation to remove oneself skilled in mettā meditation. ourselves, and at the same time, it
from personal attachments to In the famous simile of the saw in shows that we care for others as
family and material possessions. Kakacūpama Sutta (MN 21), the well. Therefore, it helps to develop
But a lay person has a special Buddha said that even if one was our compassionate mind towards
obligation towards his/her family carved up savagely by bandits with others, especially strangers or a
members, including some form of a two-handled saw, one should not difficult person.
attachment, and it is not practical get angry but remain sympathetic,
for them to treat their spouse with a mind of goodwill, with no In Mahāyāna Buddhism, all
and children on an equal footing inner hate. One should keep infuse sentient beings are said to be our
as others. So how does a lay them with abundant, immeasurable, previous relatives; therefore, we
practitioner practices mettā then? mettā that is free from hostility, and must resolve to liberate them. All

ill will. Then one should extend that sentient beings have the Buddha
Aggacitta: I don’t agree with your same mettā to the whole world. nature, they are all future Buddhas
premise that the practice of mettā though presently, they are deluded.
is for developing impartiality and Obviously, this is not easy for In a nutshell, we should practice the
detachment because I am not aware anyone, lay or monastic, to do. four immeasurable states of mind
of any sutta that states so. On the to help them.
contrary, there is overwhelming In Mettābhāvanā Sutta (Itv 27)
evidence from the suttas to show the Buddha declared that mettā Dadul: It may be helpful to
otherwise. A few examples follow. meditation ranks the highest among remember that loving-kindness,
I think most Theravādin Buddhists all meritorious deeds, leading to compassion, empathetic joy, and
are already aware of the eleven fortunate rebirths. equanimity are not the same as