Mettā is a Pali word which is equivalent to loving kindness and is derived from the word Mitta meaning friendliness. It is one of the ten pāramitās of the Theravāda school of Buddhism.
The Buddha preached that Mettā should be cultivated as a meditation and it is called mettā bhāvanā. The object of mettā bhāvanā is loving kindness. The mettā should be expressed to all sentient beings such as the seen and the unseen, those dwelling near or far. Futher Buddha says that as a mother would protect her only child even at the risk of her own life, to develop a love like this to all beings.( Karaniya Metta Sutta
There are five stages of mettā bhāvanā.
1 Yourself
2 A good friend
3 A 'neutral' person
4 A difficult person
5 All beings the entire Universe
According to Buddhism mettā bhāvanā is an antidote to insomnia and nightmares. The mettā-full person will feel more comfortible and happy too. The mettā thought to contribute to aworld of love, peace and happiness. It is an antidote to anger and considered a good way to calm down a distraught mind. Someone who has cultivated mettā will not be easily angered, non-violance as well as a strong wish for the happiness of others and showing qualities such as patience, receptivity and appreciation. mettā-full person is living with plesant mind.
Dear friend, you also can improve Metta mind where ever you are living. Before going to bed as well as early in the morning, sit down sophisticated place, close the eye and wish with pleasant mind; may all living beings who are the seen and the unseen, those dwelling near or far be health, happy and well! When you practise such way, hatred mind, jealous mind ceases by love or Metta.
May you be health and happy
With Metta
Bhante B. Samiddhi
