Metta

Mettā (Pāli) or maitrī (Sanskrit) has been translated as "loving-kindness," "friendliness," "benevolence," "amity," "friendship," "good will," "kindness," "love," "sympathy," and "active interest in others." It is one of the ten pāramitās of the Theravāda school of Buddhism, and the first of the four Brahmavihāras. The mettā bhāvanā ("cultivation of mettā") is a popular form of meditation in Buddhism.

The object of mettā meditation is loving kindness (love without attachment). Traditionally, the practice begins with the meditator cultivating loving kindness towards themselves, then their loved ones, friends, teachers, strangers, enemies, and finally towards all sentient beings.

Buddhists believe that those who cultivate mettā will be at ease because they see no need to harbor ill will or hostility. Buddhist teachers may even recommend meditation on mettā as an antidote to insomnia and nightmares. It is generally felt that those around a mettā-ful person will feel more comfortable and happy too. Radiating mettā is thought to contribute to a world of love, peace and happiness.

Mettā meditation is considered a good way to calm down a distraught mind by people who consider it to be an antidote to anger. According to them, someone who has cultivated mettā will not be easily angered and can quickly subdue anger that arises, being more caring, more loving, and more likely to love unconditionally.

Mettā meditation: the practice of loving-kindness

Mettā signifies friendship and non-violence as well as a strong wish for the happiness of others, but also less obvious or direct qualities such as showing patience, receptivity, and appreciation. Though it refers to many seemingly disparate ideas, Mettā is in fact a very specific form of love – a caring for another independent of all self-interest – and thus is likened to one's love for one's child or parent. Understandably, this energy is often difficult to describe in words; however, in the practice of Mettā meditation, one recites specific words and phrases in order to evoke this boundless warm-hearted feeling. Metta is not limited to one's family, religion, or social class. Its cultivation allows one's generosity and kindness to be applied to all beings and, as a consequence, one finds true happiness in another person's happiness, no matter who the individual may be.

Visuddhimagga method: Six stages

Contemporary metta practice is often based on a method traditionally associated with the 5^th century C.E. Pali exegetical text, the Visuddhimagga ("The path to purity"). The full instructions for the theory and practice of mettā bhāvanā are available in this text (Chapter IX). Therein, the text describes six stages of mettā bhāvanā meditation, which are as follows:

1. Cultivation of loving kindness to one's self
2. Cultivation of loving kindness to a good friend
3. Cultivation of loving kindness to a 'neutral' person
4. Cultivation of loving kindness to a difficult person
5. Cultivation of loving kindness towards all four categories above.
6. Gradually cultivate loving kindness towards the entire universe

It is recommended that one avoid choosing someone to whom one feels sexually attracted, or that is much younger or much older than oneself, or whom is dead. In addition, when choosing "an enemy," one is to avoid choosing a person who has just wrecked one's life, unless one is very well grounded in awareness. In the fifth stage, one is to treat all four categories as equals, equally deserving of loving-kindness.

Pali Canon texts

In the Pali Canon, statements regarding the use of metta traditionally employ one or more of the following devices, often using a stock formula:

• mental purification
• a verse for wishing others well
• pervading all directions and all beings with loving-kindness.

The well-known Kakacupama Sutta and Karaniya Metta Sutta use striking metaphors to give these traditional devices vitality. Other canonical material, such as in the Paṭisambhidāmagga, elaborate on these basic devices in a manner that is perpetuated by the later traditional commentaries. Other canonical sources, such as the Abhidhamma, underline the key role of metta in the development of wholesome karma.

In the Pali canon, a classic example of extending loving-kindness and compassion (Pali: karuna) to "difficult persons" can be found in the "Parable of the Saw" sutta (Majjhima Nikaya 21), where the Buddha provides the following instruction:

'Monks, even if bandits were to sever you savagely limb by limb with a two-handled saw, he who gave rise to a mind of hate toward them would not be carrying out my teaching. Herein, monks, you should train thus: "Our minds will remain unaffected, and we shall utter no bitter words; we shall abide compassionate for their welfare, with a mind of loving-kindness, never in a mood of hate. We shall abide pervading them with a mind imbued with loving-kindness; and starting with them, we shall abide pervading the all-encompassing world with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility, and without ill will." This is how you should train, monks.'

Basic intention and verse

In Cunda Kammaraputta Sutta ("To Cunda the Silversmith," Anguttara Nikaya 10.176), the Buddha explains that mental or intentional purity (manasā soceyyaṃ) is threefold: non-greed, non-ill-will and non-delusion. Regarding the manifestation of non-ill-will the discourse describes a virtuous person in the following manner (in English and Pali):

He bears no ill will and is not corrupt in the resolves of his heart. [He thinks,] 'May these beings be free from animosity, free from oppression, free from trouble, and may they look after themselves with ease!'

Avyāpannacitto hoti appaduṭṭhamanasaṃkappo, 'ime sattā averā avyāpajjā anīghā sukhī attānaṃ pariharantu'ti.

This basic statement of intention and verse can also be found in several other canonical discourses.

Basic radiating formula

In over a dozen discourses, the following description (in English and Pali) is provided for radiating metta in six directions:

"He abides, having suffused with a mind of loving-kindness one direction of the world, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth, and so above, below, around and everywhere, and to all as to himself; he abides suffusing the entire universe with loving-kindness, with a mind grown great, lofty, boundless and free from enmity and ill will."

So mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṃ disaṃ pharitvā viharati. Tathā dutiyaṃ. Tathā tatiyaṃ. Tathā catutthiṃ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṃ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṃ lokaṃ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati.

In the Canon, this basic formula is expanded upon in a variety of ways. For instance, a couple of discourses provide the following description of "the path to the company of Brahmā" (brahmānaṃ sahavyatāya maggo) along with a memorable metaphor:

"What … is the path to the company of Brahmā? Here a bhikkhu abides pervading one quarter with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the forth; so above, below, around, and everywhere, and to all as to himself, he abides pervading the all-encompassing world with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility, and without ill well. When the deliverance of mind by loving-kindness is developed in this way, no limiting action remains there, none persists there. Just as a vigorous trumpeter could make himself heard without difficulty in the four quarters, so too, when the deliverance of mind by loving-kindness is developed in this way, no limiting action remains there, none persists there. This is the path to the company of Brahmā."

Kakacupama Sutta (MN 21)

Incorporating facets of the above textual methods in a series of increasingly vivid similes, the Kakacupama Sutta ("Parable of the Saw Discourse," Majjhima Nikaya 21) provides the following culminating scenario:

"Monks, even if bandits were to savagely sever you, limb by limb, with a double-handled saw, even then, whoever of you harbors ill will at heart would not be upholding my Teaching. Monks, even in such a situation you should train yourselves thus: 'Neither shall our minds be affected by this, nor for this matter shall we give vent to evil words, but we shall remain full of concern and pity, with a mind of love, and we shall not give in to hatred. On the contrary, we shall live projecting thoughts of universal love to those very persons, making them as well as the whole world the object of our thoughts of universal love—thoughts that have grown great, exalted and measureless. We shall dwell radiating these thoughts which are void of hostility and ill will.' It is in this way, monks, that you should train yourselves."

Karaniya Metta Sutta

The Karaniya Metta Sutta (Suttanipata 1.8) combines both the interpersonal and radiant aspects of canonical expressions of metta.

This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:
… Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all beings be at ease.

Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty,
medium, short or small,

The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born—
May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.

Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings;

Radiating kindness over the entire world
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.

Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding….

According to the Pali commentaries, the Buddha originally gave this instruction (of Loving-Kindness meditation) to Monks who were being harassed by the Tree Spirits of a forest in which the Monks were trying to meditate. After doing this meditation in the forest it is said that the Spirits were so affected by the power of Loving-Kindness that they allowed the Monks to stay in the forest for the duration of the rainy season.

Patisambhidamagga Mettakatha

In the Khuddaka Nikaya's Paṭisambhidāmagga, traditionally ascribed to Ven. Sariputta, is a section entitled Mettākathā (Patisambhidamagga. 2.4, "Metta Instruction"). In this instruction, a general formula (below, in English and Pali), essentially identical to the aforementioned Cunda Kammaraputta Sutta verse (especially evident in the Pali), is provided for radiating metta:

"May all beings be free from enmity, affliction and anxiety, and live happily."

Sabbe sattā averā abyāpajjā anīghā sukhī attānaṃ pariharantu.

In addition, this instruction categorizes twenty-two ways in which "the mind-deliverence of lovingkindness" (mettācetovimutti) can be radiated as follows:

• five ways of "unspecified pervasion" (anodhiso pharaṇā):

1. all beings (sabbe sattā )
2. all breathing things (sabbe pāṇā bhāvapariyāpannā)
3. all creatures (sabbe bhūtā bhāvapariyāpannā)
4. all persons (sabbe puggalā bhāvapariyāpannā)
5. all with a personality (sabbe attabhāvapariyāpannā)

• seven ways of "specified pervasion" (anodhiso pharaṇā):

1. all women (sabbā itthiyo)
2. all men (sabbe purisā)
3. all Noble Ones (sabbe ariyā)
4. all non-Noble Ones (sabbe anariyā)
5. all deities (sabbe devā)
6. all humans (sabbe manussā)
7. all born in lower realms (sabbe vinipātikā)

• ten ways of "directional pervasion" (disā-pharaṇā):

1. of the eastern direction (puratthimāya disāya)
2. of the western direction (pacchimāya disāya)
3. of the northern direction (uttarā disāya)
4. of the southern direction (dakkhīṇāya disāya)
5. of the eastern intermediate direction (puratthimāya anudisāya)
6. of the western intermediate direction (pacchimāya anudisāya)
7. of the northern intermediate direction (uttarā anudisāya)
8. of the southern intermediate direction (dakkhīṇāya anudisāya)
9. of the downward direction (heṭṭhimāya disāya)
10. of the upward direction (uparimāya disāya).

Moreover, the directional pervasions can then be applied to each of the unspecific and specific pervasions. For instance, after radiating metta to all beings in the east (Sabbe puratthimāya disāya sattā …), one radiates metta to all beings in the west and then north and then south, etc.; then, one radiates metta to all breathing things in this fashion (Sabbe puratthimāya disāya pāṇā …), then all creatures, persons, and so forth until such is extended for all those born in the lower realms.

Abhidhammic descriptor

In the Abhidhamma's Dhammasangani, the causes of "good" or "wholesome" (kusala) and "bad" or "unwholesome" (akusala) karmic states (dhammā) are described (Dhammasangani 188 ff). The three causes of wholesome karma are stated to be the non-greed, non-hate and non-delusion (alobho adoso amoho). Non-hate is then defined in the following manner:

The absence of hate, hating, hatred; love, loving, loving disposition; tender care, forbearance, considerateness; seeking the general good, compassion; the absence of malice, of malignity; that absence of hate which is the root of good (karma)."

References

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