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We must let the power of loving friendliness shine through every encounter with others. |
Loving friendliness is the underlying principle behind all wholesome thoughts, words, and deeds. |
With loving friendliness, we recognize more clearly the needs of others and help them readily. |
With thoughts of loving friendliness we appreciate the success of others with warm feeling. |
We need loving friendliness in order to live and work with others in harmony. |
Loving friendliness protects us from the suffering caused by anger and jealousy. |
When we cultivate our loving friendliness, our compassion, our appreciative joy for others, and our equanimity, we not only make life more pleasant for those around us, our own lives become peaceful and happy. |
The power of loving friendliness, like the radiance of the sun, is beyond measure. |
May all those who are imprisoned legally or illegally, all who are in police custody anywhere in the world meet with peace and happiness. |
May they be free from greed, anger, aversion, hatred, jealousy, and fear. |
Let their bodies and minds be filled with thoughts of loving friendliness. |
Let the peace and tranquillity of loving friendliness pervade their entire bodies and minds. |
May all who are in hospitals suffering from numerous sicknesses meet with peace and happiness. |
May they be free from pain, afflictions, depression, disappointment, anxiety, and fear. |
Let their minds and bodies be filled with the thought of loving friendliness. |
May all mothers who are in pain delivering babies meet with peace and happiness. |
Let every drop of blood, every cell, every atom, every molecule of their entire bodies and minds be charged with these thoughts of friendliness. |
May all single parents taking care of their children meet with peace and happiness. |
May they have the patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life. |
May all children abused by adults in numerous ways meet with peace and happiness. |
May they be filled with thoughts of loving friendliness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity. |
May they have understanding of the oppressed, the underprivileged, the discriminated against, and the poverty-stricken. |
May their hearts melt at the suffering of their unfortunate citizens. |
Let these thoughts of loving friendliness embrace them, envelop them. |
Let every cell, every drop of blood, every atom, every molecule of their entire bodies and minds be charged with thoughts of friendliness. |
Let the peace and tranquillity of loving friendliness pervade their entire being. |
May they be free from pain, afflictions, depression, disappointment, anxiety, and fear. |
May they have the patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life. |
May these thoughts of loving friendliness embrace all of them, envelop them. |
May their minds and bodies be filled with thoughts of loving friendliness. |
May all beings everywhere of every shape and form, with two legs, four legs, many legs, or no legs, born or coming to birth, in this realm or the next, have happy minds. |
May no one deceive another nor despise anyone anywhere. |
May no one wish harm to another. |
May all beings be released from suffering and attain perfect peace. |
Loving friendliness goes beyond all boundaries of religion, culture, geography, language, and nationality. |
It is a universal and ancient law that binds all of us togetherno matter what form we may take. |
Loving friendliness should be practiced unconditionally. |
His loving friendliness is my loving friendliness. |
Just as we all share suffering regardless of our differences, we should all share our loving friendliness with every person everywhere. |
No one nation can stand alone without the help and support of other nations, nor can any one person exist in isolation. |
To survive, we need other living beings, beings who are bound to be different from us. |
Because of the differences we have, the practice of loving friendliness is absolutely necessary. |
It is what ties all of us together. |
See also consciousness mindfulness as alertness bare attention concentration, balancing with goal of meditation as mental states, application to mindfulness as egoless awareness preconceptual selfless tantric approach to unconscious, extending into vipassana approach to Zen approach to bad, good, neutral division of experience beginner pitfalls burnout discursive thought excitement over extraordinary sensations forcing breath trying too hard bhavana bliss. |
See also impermanence concentration, momentary incessant nature of mindfulness as awareness of observing in consciousness observing in mental phenomena observing in physical experience observing through breath practice present moment, inherent in Cinca clinging, avoiding in meditation clothing worn during meditation compassion loving friendliness, cultivating through meditation, arising from morality, relation to piti versus thought, compassionate wisdom, arising from concentration. |
See also jhana samatha awareness, balancing with breath, concentration aids using Buddhist tradition, within in contemplation defined distraction, overcoming farmer analogy fear arising from forced nature of hindrances to Hindu tradition, within insight versus Judeo-Christian tradition, within lens analogy meditation factor mental dullness as byproduct of mental phenomena, needed to observe mental processes, slowing through mindfulness, balancing with mindfulness, relation to momentary prayer as signs of as tool unwholesome vipassana meditation, role in wandering mind, bringing back to object of attention conceptualization consciousness. |
See unsatisfactoriness distractions bliss of meditation as categorization into hindrances environment, structuring for a minimum of frame of reference grasping, relation to mindfulness, dispelling through observing techniques for dealing with doubt drowsiness during meditation dukkha. |
See also self extinguishing through mindfulness hindrances arising from separation, as sense of tantric practices aimed at understanding thought, connection with elements, perceiving through breath practice emotion. |
See also mental phenomena, observing specific emotions negative, canceling with skillful thought observing during meditation empirical nature of vipassana meditation energy needed for meditation equanimity ethics expectations eyes closed during meditation faith fear, experiencing during meditation feeling. |
See Buddha Gotama grasping greed impermanence, dispelling through experience of mindfulness, dispelling through for noble feelings origin of thought, dispelling through skillful thought, greedy guilt hand position during meditation happiness hatred benevolence, dispelling through loving friendliness, dispelling through mindfulness, dispelling through origin of self-hatred thought, dispelling through skillful thought, hateful heat, observing in breath practice hindrances categories of to concentration ego, arising from impermanence, overcoming through experience of loving friendliness, dispelling through mindfulness, dispelling through Hinduism ignorance ignoring, habit of impermanence. |
See also drowsiness during meditation dullness of mind liberation listening and speaking with mindfulness loving friendliness acting from anger, responding to with bond created by Buddha, examples in life of compassion, cultivating through dirty cloth analogy enemies, towards expanding to all beings hindrances, dispelling through, innate capacity for meditation session, beginning with mindfulness, developing alongside morality, cultivating through motherhood analogy neutral people, towards peaceful mind necessary for purification through recitations resistance to self, towards strengthening through practice universal lust Mahayana Buddhism meditation attitudes conducive to Buddhist contemplation compared elephant analogy energy needed environment, choosing field analogy group, practicing with gumption needed for Hindu Judeo-Christian length of sitting session misconceptions about personal transformation arising from purpose of resistance to, overcoming scheduling practice time needed to see results wisdom factor memory mental factors, universal mental notes during meditation mental phenomena, observing. |
See also mind specific mental states attachment to pleasant states birth, growth, decay stages change concentration needed conceptualization, moment of conceptualization, without consciousness itself memory slowing mental processes through concentration thought unconscious becoming conscious metta. |
See also mental phenomena, observing thought bodymind complex conceptualization, suspending during meditation craziness of discipline of dullness events, as set of monkey mind muddy water analogy positive mental states, attachment to purification of relaxing sinking tranquillity of unconscious becoming conscious wandering, bringing back to object of attention wandering, observing mindfulness as awareness of change as bare attention of boredom boredom versus breath practice, developing through concentration, balancing with concentration, relation to conditions, not limited by described distraction, dispelling through dullness, dispelling through effort required ego, extinguishing through as egoless awareness elephant analogy enlightenment, leading to experience of fear, dispelling through forcing fundamental activities of goal of greed, dispelling through hatred, dispelling through hindrances, dispelling through honesty in ignorance, dispelling through as impartial watchfulness impermanence, perceiving through inclusive nature of lethargy, dispelling through loving friendliness, developing alongside lust, dispelling through meditation, cultivation through meditation, role in as mirror-thought morality arising from muddy water analogy as nonconceptual awareness as nonjudgmental observation object of attention of pain as participatory observation patience, as essence of preconceptual nature of as present-moment awareness as presymbolic problems, dealing with through process of reminder function of sanity, role in achieving as seeing things as they really are selfless nature of selflessness, perceiving through slow movement as aid to speaking and listening with spontaneous nature of strengthening through practice tension versus unsatisfactoriness, perceiving through wisdom arising from mitra. |
See also pain piti pleasant, unpleasant, neutral division of experience posture prayer precepts as guide to morality present moment breath practice, discovering through change inherent in mindfulness as awareness of observing in meditation pride problems. |
See also mindfulness Satipatthana Sutta scheduling practice seeing things as they really are self. |
See also ego comparison with others construction of evil arising from false sense of ignorance arising through notion of self-discipline self-hatred selfishness selflessness awareness, selfless ignorance dispelled through realization of of mindfulness of pain perceiving through breath practice perceiving through mindfulness perception of as goal of practice sensation observing. |
See also specific suttas sympathetic joy tantra teacher, role of Theravada Buddhism thought. |
See also mind canceling one thought with another discursive, avoiding during meditation ego, connection with experience of freedom from greedy hateful observing during meditation obsessive skillfulunskillful time experiencing as concept length of sitting session needed to see results of meditation scheduling practice timing distractions Tipitaka trance transformation arising from meditation trust in yourself unconscious becoming conscious universality, realizing through breath practice unsatisfactoriness inherent to human experience perceiving through breath practice perceiving through mindfulness perception of as goal of practice Upatissa verbalizing mentally during meditation Vimuttimagga Vinaya vipassana bhavana vipassana Visuddhimagga walking meditation wisdom worry Zen Buddhism |
About the Author was ordained at the age of twelve as a Buddhist monk in Malandeniya, Sri Lanka. |
In , at age twenty, he was given higher ordination in Kandy. |
He received his education from Vidyasekhara Junior College in Gumpaha, Vidyalankara College in Kelaniya, and Buddhist Missionary College in Colombo. |
Subsequently he traveled to India for five years of missionary work for the Mahabodhi Society, serving the Harijana people in Sanchi, Delhi, and Bombay. |
Later he spent ten years as a missionary in Malaysia, serving as religious advisor to the Sasana Abhivurdhiwardhana Society, the Buddhist Missionary Society, and the Buddhist Youth Federation of Malaysia. |
At the invitation of the Sasana Sevaka Society, he came to the United States in to serve as general secretary of the Buddhist Vihara Society of Washington, In , he was appointed president of the society. |
During his years at the Vihara, from to , he taught courses in Buddhism, conducted meditation retreats, and lectured widely throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and Asia. |
In addition, from to , Venerable Gunaratana served as Buddhist chaplain at American University. |
He has also pursued his scholarly interests by earning a Ph.in philosophy from American University. |
He has taught courses on Buddhism at American University, Georgetown University, and the University of Maryland. |
His books and articles have been published in Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, and the United States. |
Mindfulness in Plain English has been translated into many languages and published around the world. |
An abridged Thai translation has been selected for use in the high school curriculum throughout Thailand. |
Since Venerable Gunaratana has been president of the Bhavana Society, a monastery and retreat center located in the woods of West Virginia , which he cofounded with Matthew Flickstein. |
Venerable Gunaratana resides at the Bhavana Society, where he ordains and trains monks and nuns, and offers retreats to the general public. |
He also travels frequently to lecture and lead retreats throughout the world. |
In , Venerable Gunaratana received an award for lifetime outstanding achievement from his alma mater, Vidyalankara College. |
In the same engaging style that has endeared him to readers of Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante Gunaratana delves deeply into each step of the Buddhas most profound teaching on bringing an end to suffering the noble eightfold path. |
With generous and specific advice, he offers skillful ways to handle anger, to find right livelihood, and to cultivate loving-friendliness in relationships with parents, children, and partners, as well as tools to overcome all the mental hindrances that prevent happiness. |
If you have yet to sit down and watch your breath, this book will point out why you should and how to do it. |
Venerable Silananda has written one of its best and most illuminating commentaries. |
Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah Foreword by Jack Kornfield Introduction by Ajahn Amaro Food for the Heart brings together Ajahn Chahs most powerful teachings, most of which were previously available only in rare, limited editions. |
Ajahn Chah was the wisest man have ever met. |
In this book he leaps off the page. |
Jack Kornfield, author of After the Ecstasy, the Laundry Buddhist Woman Confronts Cancer Sandy Boucher Eloquent and thoughtful, Hidden Spring offers a spiritual map of how we can meet our challenges whatever they may bewith awareness, courage, compassion, and support. |
Sandy Boucher tells us how her spiritual practice became the one still point in the turning world of cancer. |
Her explanations of abstract concepts are simple and clear she writes from experience, and with deep conviction. |
Her open and honest sharing of living her spirituality in a time of crisis is an inspiration for all of us. |
In this modern classic, Ayya Khema introduces the reader to the essence of the Buddhist path. |
She addresses the how and why of meditation, the nature of karma and rebirth, and the entirety of the Eightfold Path. |
With specific, practical advice, Ayya Khema illuminated the practices of compassion and sympathetic joy, and offers forthright guidance in working with the hindrances that we all encounter in meditation. |
John Daishin Buksbazen Foreword by Peter Matthiessen Buksbazen, a psychotherapist and Zen priest, offers practical and down-to-earth advice about the specifics of Zen meditation how to position the body how and when to breathe what to think about. |
Includes helpful diagrams and even provides a checklist to help beginners remember all of the steps. |
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