In
this unit: Loving-kindness
is one of the Four Immeasurables taught by the Buddha.
The other three are sympathetic joy, equanimity (equal
spread of feelings) and compassion. Loving-kindness means
you want all beings to be well and happy. Not just people
you know and like, but all beings - including strangers,
people that annoy you, even animals.
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| Although
his evil plot had failed, Devadatta tried to kill
the Buddha again. When the Buddha was on his daily
alms-round at Rajagaha, Devadatta set loose a wild
elephant. But as the wild elephant ran towards the
Buddha, it became calm because of the Buddha's enormous
loving-kindness. After this incident, Devadatta gave
up trying to kill the Buddha, but he still wanted
to be the head of the Sangha. |
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Showing
Loving-kindness to Everyone
Loving-kindness
means showing kindness to others so that they will be
well and happy. Another word for loving-kindness is Metta.
We
show loving-kindness to others by wishing them to be well
and happy. One way to show loving-kindness is to help
other people so that they will be able to do things by
themselves.
We wish ourselves to be well and happy so that we can
do good and help others - and because we all want to be
happy.
We
should try to make our parents and teachers well and happy
because they teach us so many interesting things that
we do not know about.
We
should try to make animals well and happy. Animals are
just like human beings because they also suffer pain and
sadness.
Before
going to bed, we should generate loving-kindness for all
beings. If we always do this, we will be happy and peaceful.
The
Elephant Nalagiri
Devadatta
was one of the Buddha's disciples and also his cousin.
He therefore expected to become the future leader among
the monks. To his surprise, the Buddha treated him like
everyone else. This made him so angry that he plotted
to harm the Buddha.
In
the village, there was an elephant known to be a man-killer.
Her name was Nalagiri. One day, Devadatta gave Nalagiri
some alcohol to make her go wild. He then drove the elephant
onto the path where the Buddha was walking. As soon as
Nalagiri caught sight of the Buddha, she rushed towards
him in a mad fury. People scattered in fright in all directions.
They shouted, "Mad elephant! Run for your lives!"
To
everyone's surprise, the Buddha faced Nalagiri calmly
as he raised his hand to touch her. The huge creature
felt the power of the Buddha's loving-kindness and readily
went on her knees in front of him, as if bowing humbly.
So we can see that loving-kindness can turn hostility
into respect.
Loving-kindness
Meditation
Loving-kindness
meditation is wishing yourself and all other living beings
happiness. In other words, you send out thoughts of kindness
towards yourself and love and goodwill towards others,
including animals.
Whatever
good things we wish for ourselves, we also wish for everybody
else. It is like a song, that you can sing to yourself
and to others.
Here
is a practice you may like to try:
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Sit
down or lie down comfortably and close your eyes.
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Now
turn your attention to yourself and say in your mind:
"May I be well, may I be happy."
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Then
recall in your mind someone very dear to you and say
in your mind:
"May (s)he be well, may (s)he be happy."
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Then recall to your mind your friends and also wish
them well:
"May they be well, may they be happy."
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Next
turn your attention to the whole world, to all people
around you and say in your mind: "May all people
be well, may all people be happy."
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Finally
turn your attention to the whole world, to all beings
around you and say in your mind: "May all beings
be well, may all beings be happy."
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Finish
by saying: "Peace, peace, peace"
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Congratulations!
Now that you have
finished unit 6, why not see what you
have learned by doing the unit 6 Quiz?
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Launch
Quiz |
Note: Quiz uses
Flash 6.0 |
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