Practising the Metta Bhavana

Kshantika and Khemasiri recently presented a Saturday “Meditation Morning”, from their Shrine Room in Clifton; it was hosted on Zoom. 

Perhaps like others in the Sangha, Zoom is a medium that I still feel extremely self-conscious using. Nonetheless, I am gradually coming to terms with the technique of using it – accepting it as a necessity during these very difficult Covid-19 times for all of us.

Kshantika and Khemasiri explained that through guided meditation we would explore working with the Satipatthana Sutta (the Buddha’s teaching on mindfulness), to build layers of awareness as a basis for practising the metta bhavana.

Personally, and throughout the session, I felt the whole experience was totally absorbing. It contained a huge relevance to my current, rather limited understanding of the metta bhavana and the significance of awareness and mindfulness in that context. 

It also gave me the space, within the practice of metta bhavana, to accept, deal with and tolerate the contrasting views and actions, taken by others in our society, during these very testing times more readily. 

Throughout the morning, the whole concept was explained in fascinating detail but, in bite-sized chunks that were easily digested and, for the first time for me, more clearly understood. Perhaps the expression “practice makes perfect” also has a part to play in the process.

The result gave me a far greater understanding and insight into the practice of metta bhavana. A practice that, hitherto, I have honestly really struggled with. In contrast, I find mindfulness of breathing is more regimented and, by its very nature, it enables me to return to the present moment more easily, whenever I stray.

Suddenly, it is OK for me to think of myself, not to the exclusion of others but as well as others. I can give myself permission to look after myself, in a much more loving, sympathetic, and positive way.

It would seem to me, the building of layers of awareness, as a basis for practicing the metta bhavana, is certainly a set of building blocks that I have been struggling to find in order to further enhance my own awareness, mindfulness and mental wellbeing.

Martin Crush