Loving-Kindness in Plain English: The Practice of Metta

by Henepola Gunaratana

Overview

The bestselling author of Mindfulness in Plain English invites us to explore the joyful benefits of living with loving-kindness.

With his signature clarity and warmth, Bhante Gunaratana shares with us how we can cultivate loving-kindness to live a life of joyful harmony with others. Through personal anecdotes, step-by-step meditations, conversational renderings of the Buddha’s words in the suttas, and transformative insights into how we live in and relate to the world, we learn that peace here and now is possible—within ourselves and in all our relationships. Bhante G speaks directly to how we can cultivate loving-kindness to find emotional clarity, overcome anger, and become more peaceful—both on and off the meditation cushion.



Loving-Kindness in Plain English was chosen for the Spirituality & Practice Book Award as one of the 50 Best Spiritual Books of 2017 by the website Spirituality & Practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781614292494
Publisher:	Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date:	03/14/2017
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	204,185
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Bhante Gunaratana was ordained at the age of twelve as a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka, earned his PhD in philosophy from The American University, and has led meditation retreats, taught Buddhism, and lectured widely throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. He is the president of the Bhavana Society in High View, West Virginia, where he lives. He is the author of the bestselling Mindfulness in Plain English and Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness. Bhante Gunaratana lives in High View, West Virginia.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

1 Metta: Our Natural State 1

2 Meditations on Loving-Friendliness 7

3 Eight Ways to Cultivate Loving-Friendliness 19

4 Practicing Peace 25

5 Metta in Action 29

6 Benefits of Loving-Friendliness 33

7 A Mother's Love 39

8 Overcoming Ill Will 47

9 Following Metta 55

10 Fighting Fires with Metta 61

11 Relaxing into Forgiveness 65

12 Communities of Metta 69

13 Some Comments on the Metta Sutta 75

14 Stories of Loving-Friendliness 83

15 Ecology and Loving-Friendliness 91

16 Some Tips for Living a Life of Loving-Friendliness 95

17 Eight Mindful Steps to Metta 103

18 Three Modes of Metta 105

19 Cordiality and Loving-Friendliness 109

20 Listening, Speaking, and Working with Metta 111

Appendix 1 The Buddha's Discourses on Loving-Friendliness 117

Appendix 2 Loving-Friendliness Meditations 123

Index 137

About the Author 143

Editorial Reviews

★ 01/23/2017
In lucid, accessible prose, Gunaratana (Mindfulness in Plain English) introduces readers to the practice of metta, or loving-kindness meditation. He characterizes loving-kindness as an unconditional love towards the self, others, and the world that possesses no ulterior motive, helping practitioners and the objects of their meditations “swallow the bitterness of life.” For Gunaratana, to do metta practice is to express one’s true nature and to acknowledge the impermanence and interconnectedness of all phenomena. He stresses that metta practice is an individual (rather than collective) practice that is not about saving the world but rather about creating peace and well-being for the self. Far from presenting loving-kindness meditation as a practice of selfish concern, he shows that by practicing loving-kindness toward the self and achieving a state of clarity and rest, one can properly attend to friends, strangers, and enemies. Mindfulness practice is not enough by itself, he says; it requires the self-love and other-concern of loving-kindness meditation to fully expand one’s range of compassion. Gunaratana’s newest is a clear and excellent introduction and should be considered a standard manual for metta practice. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

This beautiful book not only expertly guides us in cultivating loving-kindness, it is the transmission of an awakened heart. Bhante G, as he is affectionately called, is a true master, and his deep wisdom and love flow through his words into our hearts. Written with great lucidity, and filled with accessible, powerful teachings and practices, Loving-Kindness In Plain English is a book that will bring more love into your life.

Tara Brach

This latest installment in the In Plain Englishseries offers a straightforward and simple introduction to loving-kindness. Loving-friendliness, as the author prefers to call it, is more than a meditation practice; it is an attitude, a gift, and a way of peace. The humility and benevolence that pervades the stories makes this little book easy to understand, and instructive for living a good life. It is a joy to read!

Shaila Catherine

In Loving-kindness in Plain English Bhante Gunaratana provides a clear and thoughtful elucidation of the Karaniya Metta Sutta, as well as other discourses that give guidance on practicing metta (lovingkindness). All of this will delight the reader who is interested in better understanding the traditional texts. Bhante Gunaratana also offers beautiful stories from his own life that illustrates the power and benefits of metta practice. There's something here for everyone.

Sharon Salzberg