metta (mettaa): Loving-kindness; goodwill. One of the ten perfections (paramis) and one of the four "sublime abodes" (brahma-vihara).

 (See also: Metta, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Metta Touch: a blend of techniques from acupressure, reflexology, shiatsu, Swedish massage, Thai Massage, and yoga. One of its aims is to bridge the connection between the practitioner, the patient, and the cosmic life force.

(See also: Metta Touch, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

2005-04-23

Metta Bhavna is a Pali word meaning meditation of loving kindness. The Buddha taught this meditation in Metta Sutta to 500 monks to cure them of their ailments and to protect them from evil spirits.

Metta Bhavna is also practised to purify our mind of defilements like anger, jealousy, hatred and self-pity. We cannot stop the suffering of the world. We can only stop it in our mind, because we know our minds and we generate anger, hatred, and jealousy in our own mind. The only way we can still our minds is by practising Metta Bhavna.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Brahmaviharā (Pali and Sanskrit) can be translated as Sublime Attitudes or Abodes of God. They form a sequence of Buddhism meditations recommended in the Pali Brahmavihara Sutta and the Sanskrit Brahmavihara Sutra. Metta/Maitri: lovingkindness towards all; the hope that a person will be well Karuna: compassion; the hope that a person's sufferings will diminish Mudita: altruistic joy in the accomplishments of a person, oneself or other Upekkha/Upeksha: equanimity, or learning to accept both loss and gain, praise and blame, success and failure with det ...

Including:

• Brahmavihara - The Brahma-viharas in Early Buddhism
• Brahmavihara - The Brahma-viharas in the Mahaparinirvana Sutra
• Brahmavihara - Literature

Read more here: » Brahmavihara: Encyclopedia - Brahmavihara

Mettā (मेत्ता in Devanagari) is a Pali word meaning unconditional loving-kindness. The Sanskrit is maitrī. It is one of the ten pāramitās of the Theravada school of Buddhism. The mettā bhāvanā (cultivation of mettā) is a popular form of meditation in Buddhism, practiced with mindfulness of breath, which provides concentration, so as to prevent the loss of compassion. The object of mettā meditation is to cultivate goodwill and compassion towards all sentient beings. The practice usually ...

Including:

• Mettā - Metta meditation: the practice of loving-kindness
• Mettā - Six stages
• Mettā - Source

Read more here: » Mettā: Encyclopedia - Mettā

Praying in Buddhism: Examples of Buddhist Prayers

Including:

Universal Love Aspiration

Daily Affirmation Prayer

Golden Chain Prayer

Prayer for Light

Refuge Prayer

Metta Karuna Prayer

Buddhist Mealtime Prayer

Read more here: » Praying in Buddhism: Examples of Buddhist Prayers

Meditation like yoga originated in Vedic Hinduism many centuries ago, it was much later adopted into a wide variety of practices of religious and non-religious formats which emphasize mental activity or quiesscence. The English word comes from the Latin meditatio, which originally indicated every type of physical or intellectual exercise, but which later could perhaps be better translated as "contemplation." This usage is found in Christian spirituality, for example, when one "meditates" on the sufferings of Christ; as w ...

Including:

• Meditation - Overview
• Meditation - Types of meditation
• Meditation - Meditation in context
• Meditation - Physical postures
• Meditation - Frequency and duration
• Meditation - Purposes and effects of meditation
• Meditation - Metta meditation: the practice of loving-kindness
• Meditation - Health applications and clinical studies of meditation
• Meditation - Meditation and the brain
• Meditation - Meditation and EEG's
• Meditation - Adverse effects
• Meditation - Meditation and drugs

Read more here: » Meditation: Encyclopedia - Meditation

This article concerns the Maitri Antarctic station. For discussion of the literal meaning of the word maitri, please see metta. Maitri, the Indian station in the continent of Antarctica, is situated on the rocky mountainous region called Schirmacher Oasis. It has all the modern facilities to carry out research in various disciplines such as Biology, Earth Sciences, Glaciology, Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, Cold region Engineering, Communication, Human Physiology and Medicine. It has a capacity to accommodate ...

Including:

• Maitri - Milestones
• Maitri - Expeditions
• Maitri - External link

Read more here: » Maitri: Encyclopedia - Maitri

Metta signifies friendship and non-violence as well as "a strong wish for the happiness of others." Though it refers to many seemingly disparate ideas, Metta is in fact a very specific form of love—a caring for another independent of all self-interest—and thus is likened to one's love for one's child or parent. Understandably, this energy is often difficult to describe in words; however, in the practice of Metta meditation, one recites specific words and phrases in order to evoke this "boundless warm-hearted feeling." The strength of thi ...

See also:

Mettā, Mettā - Metta meditation: the practice of loving-kindness, Mettā - Six stages, Mettā - Source

Read more here: » Mettā: Encyclopedia II - Mettā - Metta meditation: the practice of loving-kindness

brahma-vihara (brahma-vihaara): The four "sublime" or "divine" abodes that are attained through the development of boundless metta (goodwill), karuna (compassion), mudita (appreciative joy), and upekkha (equanimity).

 (See also: Brahma-vihara, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

In the late nineteenth century, Theosophists adopted "meditation" to refer to various spiritual practices drawn from Hinduism, Buddhism, and other Eastern religions. Thus the English word "meditation" does not exclusively translate any single term or concept from the sacred languages of Asia, such as the Sanskrit dhyana, samadhi, or pranayama. (Note that whereas in Eastern religions meditation is often a central part of religious or spirtual practice, in Christianity it tends to be a ...

See also:

Meditation, Meditation - Overview, Meditation - Types of meditation, Meditation - Meditation in context, Meditation - Physical postures, Meditation - Frequency and duration, Meditation - Purposes and effects of meditation, Meditation - Metta meditation: the practice of loving-kindness, Meditation - Health applications and clinical studies of meditation, Meditation - Meditation and the brain, Meditation - Meditation and EEG's, Meditation - Adverse effects, Meditation - Meditation and drugs

Read more here: » Meditation: Encyclopedia II - Meditation - Overview

In the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra, the Buddha teaches that the Brahma-viharas are characteristic qualities of the Buddha-dhatu (the all-pervading essence of the Buddha). He states: “Great Benevolence [or “Loving-kindness”] and Great Compassion are the Buddha-dhatu (Buddha-nature). Great Sympathetic Joy and Great Equanimity are the Buddha-dhatu. The Buddha-dhatu is at once the Tathagata [ = Buddha]" (Nirvana Sutra, Vol. 9, p. 59). The Buddha is himself (as the embodiment of the Buddha-dhatu< ...

See also:

Brahmavihara, Brahmavihara - The Brahma-viharas in Early Buddhism, Brahmavihara - The Brahma-viharas in the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, Brahmavihara - Literature

Read more here: » Brahmavihara: Encyclopedia II - Brahmavihara - The Brahma-viharas in the Mahaparinirvana Sutra

In the recent years there has been a growing interest within the medical community to study the physiological effects of meditation (Venkatesh et al., 1997; Peng et al., 1999; Lazar et al., 2000; Carlson et.al, 2001). Many concepts of meditation have been applied to clinical settings in order to measure its effect on somatic motor function as well as cardiovascular and respiratory function. Also the hermeneutic and phenomenological aspects of meditation are areas of growing interest. Meditation has entered the mainstream of health care as a ...

See also:

Meditation, Meditation - Overview, Meditation - Types of meditation, Meditation - Buddhism, Meditation - Christianity, Meditation - Judaism, Meditation - Hinduism, Meditation - Sufism, Meditation - Sikhism, Meditation - Taoism, Meditation - Transcendental Meditation, Meditation - Meditation in context, Meditation - Physical postures, Meditation - Frequency and duration, Meditation - Purposes and effects of meditation, Meditation - Metta meditation: the practice of loving-kindness, Meditation - Health applications and clinical studies of meditation, Meditation - Meditation and the brain, Meditation - Meditation and EEG's, Meditation - Adverse effects, Meditation - Meditation and drugs

Read more here: » Meditation: Encyclopedia II - Meditation - Health applications and clinical studies of meditation

Buddhas Reden (Majjhimanikaya), Kristkreitz, Berlin, 1978, tr. by Kurt Schmidt The Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra, tr. by Kosho Yamamoto, revised by Dr. Tony Page (Nirvana Publications, London 1999-2000). ...

See also:

Brahmavihara, Brahmavihara - The Brahma-viharas in Early Buddhism, Brahmavihara - The Brahma-viharas in the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, Brahmavihara - Literature

Read more here: » Brahmavihara: Encyclopedia II - Brahmavihara - Literature

The purposes for which people meditate vary almost as widely as practices. Meditation may serve simply as a means of relaxation from a busy daily routine; as a technique for cultivating mental discipline; or as a means of gaining insight into the nature of reality, or of communing with one's God. Many report improved concentration, awareness, self-discipline and equanimity through meditation. Many authorities avoid emphasizing the effects of meditation — sometimes out of modesty, sometimes for fear that the expectation of results mi ...

See also:

Meditation, Meditation - Overview, Meditation - Types of meditation, Meditation - Meditation in context, Meditation - Physical postures, Meditation - Frequency and duration, Meditation - Purposes and effects of meditation, Meditation - Metta meditation: the practice of loving-kindness, Meditation - Health applications and clinical studies of meditation, Meditation - Meditation and the brain, Meditation - Meditation and EEG's, Meditation - Adverse effects, Meditation - Meditation and drugs

Read more here: » Meditation: Encyclopedia II - Meditation - Purposes and effects of meditation

According to Bogart (1991) and Perez-De-Albeniz & Holmes (2000) the different techniques of meditation can be classified according to their focus. That is, whether they focus on the field or background perception and experience, also called mindfulness, or whether they focus on a preselected specific object, also called "'concentrative' meditation." There are also techniques that shift between the field and the object. Categorizing the varieties of meditation is difficult. One common way is according to religion or lineage. Of cou ...

See also:

Meditation, Meditation - Overview, Meditation - Types of meditation, Meditation - Meditation in context, Meditation - Physical postures, Meditation - Frequency and duration, Meditation - Purposes and effects of meditation, Meditation - Metta meditation: the practice of loving-kindness, Meditation - Health applications and clinical studies of meditation, Meditation - Meditation and the brain, Meditation - Meditation and EEG's, Meditation - Adverse effects, Meditation - Meditation and drugs

Read more here: » Meditation: Encyclopedia II - Meditation - Types of meditation

In the Subha Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya set of scriptures, the Buddha is asked the way to fellowship/companionship/communion with Brahma. He replies that he personally knows the world of Brahma and the way to it, and explains the meditative method for reaching it thus: “A monk suffuses the world in the four directions with a mind of benevolence, then above, and below, and all around – the whole world from all sides, completely, with a benevolent, all-embracing, great, boundless, peaceful and friendly mind � ...

See also:

Brahmavihara, Brahmavihara - The Brahma-viharas in Early Buddhism, Brahmavihara - The Brahma-viharas in the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, Brahmavihara - Literature

Read more here: » Brahmavihara: Encyclopedia II - Brahmavihara - The Brahma-viharas in Early Buddhism

In the recent years there has been a growing interest within the medical community to study the physiological effects of meditation (Venkatesh et al., 1997; Peng et al., 1999; Lazar et al., 2000; Carlson et.al, 2001). Many concepts of meditation have been applied to clinical settings in order to measure its effect on somatic motor function as well as cardiovascular and respiratory function. Also the hermeneutic and phenomenological aspects of meditation are areas of growing interest. Meditation has entered the mainstream of health care as a ...

See also:

Meditation, Meditation - Overview, Meditation - Types of meditation, Meditation - Meditation in context, Meditation - Physical postures, Meditation - Frequency and duration, Meditation - Purposes and effects of meditation, Meditation - Metta meditation: the practice of loving-kindness, Meditation - Health applications and clinical studies of meditation, Meditation - Meditation and the brain, Meditation - Meditation and EEG's, Meditation - Adverse effects, Meditation - Meditation and drugs

Read more here: » Meditation: Encyclopedia II - Meditation - Health applications and clinical studies of meditation

These vary so much that it is difficult to venture any general comments. On one extreme there exist monks and nuns whose whole lives are ordered around meditation; on the other hand, one-minute meditations are not out of the question. Twenty or thirty minutes is probably a typical duration. Experienced meditators often find their sessions growing in length of their own accord. Observing the advice and instructions of one's spiritual teacher is generally held to be most beneficial. Many traditions stress regular practice. Accordingly, many meditators experience guilt or frustration upon failing to do so. Poss ...

See also:

Meditation, Meditation - Overview, Meditation - Types of meditation, Meditation - Buddhism, Meditation - Christianity, Meditation - Judaism, Meditation - Hinduism, Meditation - Sufism, Meditation - Sikhism, Meditation - Taoism, Meditation - Transcendental Meditation, Meditation - Meditation in context, Meditation - Physical postures, Meditation - Frequency and duration, Meditation - Purposes and effects of meditation, Meditation - Metta meditation: the practice of loving-kindness, Meditation - Health applications and clinical studies of meditation, Meditation - Meditation and the brain, Meditation - Meditation and EEG's, Meditation - Adverse effects, Meditation - Meditation and drugs

Read more here: » Meditation: Encyclopedia II - Meditation - Frequency and duration