#bekind - A guide to metta loving kindness meditation

#bekind - A guide to metta loving kindness meditation

Author: Pod Pond October 11, 2021 Duration: 34:04

Socials, you say!? @intralocal @d0ug7a5 podpondpods@gmail.com


Issue:

- The traditional Buddhist notion of "metta" is often translated as 'loving kindness' or 'compassion'. If you do Headspace meditations and do visualisations involving being flooded with golden light, that is actually a visualisation of "metta".

- "Be kind" - it's a hashtag; it sounds simple and easy. Let's see if it is.

- Metta development/cultivation ("metta bhavana") - 'loving kindness meditation'.


Concept: The 5 stages of metta meditation 

1. Make friends with yourself (flood yourself with metta)

2. Wish a loved one happiness (offering metta, useful for e.g. envy, greed, malice - lots of practical examples of this)

3. Wish a stranger happiness (offering metta to people where it is not as obviously having a direct impact on us) 

4. Wish an enemy happiness (offering metta to someone we dislike; hard)

5. Wish the cosmos happiness (offering metta to as wide a circle as possible)


Parable: Sariputta and the Brahmin

- Sariputta was out on his alms round and a Brahmin decided to test his patience by sneaking up behind him and giving him an almighty smack

- Sariputta didn't react so the Brahmin felt bad and apologised

- Sariputta accepted but this wasn't enough so the Brahmin brought him round for dinner

- An angry mob also came to dinner so Sariputta gave the Brahmin his alms bowl so they, not wanting to break it, would leave and go home

- Later, the Buddha reflected on the situation:

"The mob should not strike the brahmin, and the brahmin should not set anger loose. Shame on the one who hits a brahmin and greater shame on the one who sets anger loose. Whenever one turns away from the intent to harm,

Suffering is allayed."


Listener question:

Do you believe in reincarnation? What would you like to come back as? - Jay (they/them), Manchester


Links:

https://bit.ly/3i1vPaC Yoga Anytime: The 5 stages of loving-kindness

A webseries by Yoga Anytime that breaks down the stages of Loving Kindness into an episode per stage, guiding you in depth through the meditation


https://bbc.in/3AwEMQp BBC Bitesize: Good, evil and suffering

A bitesize analysis of the Buddhist approach to suffering, presented as part of the BBC's revision guide to GCSE Religious Studies


https://bit.ly/2XDBU5I Tricycle: Overcoming ill will 

A long-read reflection on how to change the way we react to those who anger us


Ever find yourself curious about mindfulness or meditation but immediately turned off by any mention of the supernatural or dogma? That’s exactly the space where Secular Buddhism for Skeptical Atheists lives. Hosts Cal Hoffman and Dougie Robertson, from Pod Pond, have built a conversation for those who value evidence and rational thought but are still drawn to the practical, psychological insights found in Buddhist philosophy. They strip away centuries of cultural and religious ornamentation to examine the core ideas: impermanence, suffering, and the self, all through a contemporary, fact-based lens. In each episode, you’ll hear a straightforward breakdown of these concepts, discussing how they apply to modern stressors, relationships, and the general pursuit of a more grounded, contented life. The tone is more like a thoughtful chat between friends than a lecture, often punctuated with laughter and genuine curiosity. This isn’t about converting anyone; it’s about exploring whether these ancient tools can work in a secular toolkit for living well. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at spiritual jargon but wondered if there was something useful underneath, this podcast offers a refreshing, no-nonsense place to start that exploration.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 12

Secular Buddhism for Skeptical Atheists
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