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This is the fourth in a five part series by Padmavajra on all aspects of the Metta Bhavana practice and 'The Great Love' in Buddhist discourse and practice - from metta (loving kindness) itself to Bodhichitta. Challenging material here - how do we love realistically within Reality as a practice in the face of the worst of life? A compassionate and sympathetic teasing out of the various big issues involved - betrayal, control, and, of course, forgiveness...
Talk given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004
| 1. | Making your mind maleable - responsive; friendliness; having a sense of openness and adventure (4:14) | |
| 2. | Third stage of metta bhavana; the neutral person - there is always some response; our attitude to most people; nothing much to work with - importance of developing momentum; reflecting on sameness - looking deeper (5:19) | |
| 3. | People are often more interesting than we think; working in Hockney's restaurant - the customer - two ordinees; becoming more open (6:25) | |
| 4. | A nexus of conditions; seeing someone's humanness; loving 'the world' can be unreal, sentimental; being able to love anyone; cultivating an attitude of welcome - the honoured guest (3:39) | |
| 5. | The fourth stage of metta bhavana - the really big challenge; on not disliking anyone - not being that aware; honest practice; little niggles or tiffs; anger or hatred are never justified; quote from the Dhammapada - "Hatred never ceases by hatred"." (5:00) | |
| 6. | Expressing hatred; blame culture ; resentment does not lead to fulfillment; defining yourself by blame; quote from Shantideva - "no way an angry man can be happy"; image of old herons (6:58) | |
| 7. | Parable of the saw and story about righteous indignation; betrayal is no justification - verses by Langri Thangpa; treating those who betray you as spiritual friends - Dalai Lama's response to Charman Mao; metta is robust (6:52) | |
| 8. | Rejoicing in the challenge of an enemy; being overwhelmed with misanthropy; people teach us something about ourselves (2:51) | |
| 9. | Preserving what we have gained - Shantideva; you can dissolve aversion - using reflection to humanise people; identifying with others conditions (3:54) | |
| 10. | Healing by forgiveness - you can't control events; forgiving life; Life is King by Sangharakshita - King Lear, "ripeness is all"; reading from John Middleton Murray on 'negative capability'; quote from Chekov "all things are forgiven" (8:59) |
Total running time: 54:11
