Is this Metta Bhavana? What am I doing?

[Vivek]

Great article, Matthew. Thanks for sharing. I'll be reading this again and again.

[Matthew]

The Dalai Lama:

Although all the Buddhist teachings are techniques for transforming and training one’s mind, in the Tibetan tradition we have a group of teachings which are actually categorised as ‘thought transformation’ or ‘training the mind’ teachings. This refers to certain types of practice or meditation in which the emphasis is placed on overcoming selfishness — the thought that cherishes one’s own welfare while being indifferent to that of others. So these types of teachings are called ‘teachings of thought transformation’.

.....

Compassion, love, kindness, a sense of brotherhood or sisterhood, a sense of altruism — these are key areas for human development in the future as well as today. Compassion, love — these positive thoughts give us hope, courage, determination, inner strength. Whether we are successful in the future, or not, depends entirely on the determination of the present generation. If we do not act with will or intelligence, then our future cannot be guaranteed for the next generation or for the generation after that. We cannot blame politicians, or people who make problems, but we can blame ourselves. We must ourselves take some kind of initiative. Without shouting that there is not enough, we should develop something within ourselves, and then, as an example to others, try to make some contribution to humanity. Altruism is no religious business; it is the business of humanity.
So now, the next question is: Is there any possibility of developing more compassion, more altruism? And is there any possibility of reducing anger, hatred, and jealousy? The answer is: Yes! Whether we believe it or not, let us try to implement this, let us carry out some experiments, then we’ll find the answer. Within my own little experience, through training the mind, the answer has become quite clear.


First published in the February 1989 Buddhism Now
from a talk given in London in 1988.

From: http://buddhismnow.wordpress.com/2010/06/10/more-compassion/

[Crystal Palace]

Great article, Matthew. Thanks for sharing. I'll be reading this again and again.

Vivek has said exactly what I wanted to.

CP

[Matthew]

Sharon Salzberg kindly gave her permission to reprint it here.

[kidnovice]

Yes, thank you TIB. That was excellent.

[Jeeprs]

what this post reports, is what happened to me. I call it the awakening of Bodhicitta which is universal compassion. (That is a Mahayana term). Ever since that happened, I become tearful whenever I hear or see things that are touching. (This is embarrasing at times. But it is a kind of upwelling of compassionate connectedness. )

But even so, I still hear a voice say 'stop wallowing in it -  and get a move on'. So even opening up to that, beautiful though it is, is not the be-all and end-all and there is still much work to be done.

(incidentally the Buddhism Now site looks first rate!)

[Quardamon]

Just being curious. Did this happen recently? Or many years ago? I am asking this, just to understand your situation better.
Regards,
Quardamon

[Jeeprs]

Happened in about 1982! At the time I had had my first experiences with formal meditation, both Buddhist and also through a secular organisation, and was reading pretty intensively.

Since then I have gotten married and raised two sons. I have practiced and studied ever since, but my commitment has been very uneven, which has had adverse consequences. If one has this realization, it definitely changes your outlook on life, but it is not the be-all and end-all. It is the beginning of the path, not the end.  If I had had a teacher, he or she might have told me that. So I didn't really 'actualize realization' properly in my view. I didn't renounce alcohol or begin take the precepts seriously - not that I had 'a drinking problem' or anything like that. It is simply that if I had practiced much more consistently after this realization, it would have been better.

I have created another thread about this also called 'ongoing struggle'. It is indeed an ongoing struggle, but now I see how I have been responsible for the difficulties I have been facing.

[jeepneyko]

thank you for that articles! i guess i should read more from sharon hehehe

[Masauwu]

I avoided talking about the metta subject in the past, thinking it`s just a form of wishing well. But yesterday while taking my pinball machine for a calming walk outside and feeling quite relaxed, i felt an impulse to "radiate" a state of wellbeing outwards to everything in existence. Which i did for a bit and continued my walk. Still not sure if it`s metta but it felt good and left me with an inner smile.

[Quardamon]

Beautiful.

[Vivek]

And that's what we call Metta, Masauwu. Good one.

[Stefan]

... a calming walk outside and feeling quite relaxed, i felt an impulse to "radiate" a state of wellbeing outwards to everything in existence. Which i did for a bit and continued my walk. Still not sure if it`s metta but it felt good and left me with an inner smile.

sounds like Metta to me!