A sound endorsement for the continual cultivation of good will, benevolence, and loving kindness throughout our lives. In recognizing that what we frequently think about becomes the inclination of the mind, we quickly see the value in bringing this practice to the forefront of our lives. A framework is offered for both the integration and sustainability of this profound method of relating to ourselves and the world we inhabit.
“I make my mind my friend.”
Metta is an attitude of recognizing that all sentient beings (that is, all beings that are capable of feeling), can feel good or feel bad, and that all, given the choice, will choose the former over the latter. Metta is the most fulfilling emotional state that we can know. It’s the fulfillment of the emotional development of every being.
It’s a bit like growing seeds. You can’t make a seed grow. All you can do is provide warmth, water, and soil, and then be patient.
In the cultivation of feelings of loving kindness, we’re encouraging ourselves to wish others well. So how do we set up the conditions for doing this?
Photo via Jorm S