Metta or loving kindness meditation is the other main practice coming out of the Buddhist tradition of Southeast Asia. This particular form of Buddhism is also called Theravada Buddhism, or ‘the School of the Elders’, which draws on the original teachings by the Buddha. These were written down in the Pali language for the first time about 200 years after the Buddha died, as until then the Buddha’s discourses were passed on from memory, being recited during various council meetings. During the early times only legal documents were written down, as they were only of temporary importance and not worth while to memorize.

We all have the ability to love fully and unconditionally. Many of us, however, experience a lack of love for ourselves, or feel that we are not able to love others as fully as we would wish.

In metta meditation (metta means lovingkindness in Pali, maitri in Sanskrit) we can develop a deep, unconditional love, for ourselves and others, that transcends our normal limitations. The practice of metta offers us the opportunity for healing low self-esteem, or even self-hatred, that cause us so much sadness and frustration, and block our natural feelings of love towards others.

In metta meditation we develop an attitude of unconditional love for ourselves and for others. We see ourselves as we are, not as we would like to be, and with acceptance and non-judging we learn to open our hearts to the predicament we and all living beings face.

By systematically developing this attitude of friendliness and benevolence, life becomes easier, we become lighter, and we will begin to feel the interconnectedness of all that lives. By practising in this way we plant kammic seeds of happiness and inner well-being.