The Zen Studies Podcast 147 - Loving-Kindness (Metta) Practice as an Antidote to Fear and Anxiety
Sep 19, 2020
Explore the power of loving-kindness (Metta) practice in overcoming fear and anxiety by fostering empathy and interconnectedness. Dive into the transformative impact of compassion, shift focus from personal worries to the well-being of all beings, and find strength in embracing interconnectedness and boundlessness.
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Metta Aligns Us with Reality
- Metta practice, or loving-kindness, helps us face reality while aligning with our deeper nature of boundlessness and interdependence.
- This alignment creates strength and a sense of sufficiency by giving up self-centered concern and defensiveness.
Start Metta Gradually
- Practice metta by sincerely calling suffering beings to mind and wishing them freedom from fear, ease, and happiness.
- Expand this practice gradually from easy recipients to difficult ones, including yourself.
Metta Must Inspire Action
- Use metta as a foundation that leads to compassion and sympathetic joy, urging us to witness suffering and rejoice in others' happiness.
- Do not treat metta as passive wishing; it should inspire tangible action to improve circumstances.