Contents
The Mettā Sutta contains a number of recollections or recitations that promote the development of mettā through virtuous characteristics and meditation.
The discourse identifies fifteen moral qualities and conditions conducive to the development of mettā. These include such qualities as being non-deceptive (uju), sincere (suju), easy to correct (suvaco), gentle (mudu) and without arrogance (anatimānī).
In terms of meditative development, the discourse identifies:
- an intentional wish that facilitates generating mettā (Pali: sukhino vā khemino hontu; English: "May all beings be happy and safe")
- a means for developing meditational objects (a list of various sizes, proximity, etc.) for such a wish
- a prototypical metaphor — of a mother's protective love for her only child — to be extended to all beings
- a method for radiating mettā outwards in all directions
Read more about this topic: Metta Sutta
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