Joseph Goldstein – Insight Hour – Ep. 197 – Flavors of Loving-Kindness

Offering instruction for metta practice, Joseph Goldstein explains the many flavors of loving-kindness that we can try.

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“That’s the quality of metta. It’s never a quality of ‘I love you and you owe me for this’ or ‘I want something in return’. It’s just like the sun shining on the earth. It’s that quality of radiating the felt wish ‘may you be happy’.” – Joseph Goldstein

This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein explicates: 
  • The unconditional quality of metta
  • Helping each other see our individual loveliness
  • Using mantra to evoke the feeling of loving-kindness
  • Metta as a tool for deep concentration
  • Experimenting with the different ways metta can be applied in meditation
  • The three aspects of practicing of loving-kindness
  • A 12-minute guided metta practice to settle into the feeling of well-wishing

“There are two main purposes for doing metta meditation. One is metta, or loving-kindness, which can be used as a vehicle for developing concentration. So, not only for the metta quality itself, but it is a technique or a method for developing strong concentration, even to the point of absolution.” – Joseph Goldstein

This 2018 talk was originally published on Dharmaseed.
Listen to more from Joseph:
In the search for liberation, we must explore the nature of our existence. Joseph investigates the wisdom of impermanence in Insight Hour Ep. 2.
There are deeper levels of truth about reality. Joseph explores different ways of freeing the mind by understanding the habits of preference and the emptiness of thoughts in Insight Hour Ep. 41.
It’s possible to smile at the antics of one’s own mind. Joseph offers responses to questions about selflessness, shame, cravings, and more in Insight Hour Ep. 111.
Metta practice can penetrate deeply. Joseph explores how love, kindness, gratitude, and friendship can revolutionize our lives in Insight Hour Ep. 117.
Joseph Goldstein