become gentle, pleasant, meaningful, truthful and beneficial to us as well to
others.
When you practice loving-kindness you do not get angry if you do not receive any
form of favor in return from persons and beings to whom you radiate your
loving-kindness, because you have no ulterior motive when you radiate
loving-kindness towards them. In this net of loving-kindness not only do you
include all beings as they are, but you wish all of them, without any
discrimination, to be happy minded. You continue to behave gently and kindly
towards all beings, speaking gently and kindly about them in their presence as
well as in their absence.
When we meditate, our minds and bodies become naturally, relaxed. Our
hindrances dissolve. Our sleepiness and drowsiness, for instance, are replaced by
alertness. Doubt is replaced by confidence, hatred by joy, restlessness and worry
by happiness. As our resentment is replaced by joy, loving-kindness hidden in our
subconscious mind expresses itself, making us more peaceful and happy. In this
state of meditation we gain concentration and overcome our greed. We can see
how meditation destroys hatred and cultivates loving-kindness, which in turn
supports our practice of meditation.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
1. May I be well, happy 2. May my parents be well, happy
and peaceful. and peaceful.
May no harm come to me. May no harm come to them,
May no difficulties come to me. May no difficulties come to them,
May no problems come to me. May no problems come to them,
May I always meet with success. May they always meet with success.
May I also have patience, courage, May they also have patience, courage,
understanding and determination understanding and determination
to meet and overcome inevitable to meet and overcome inevitable
difficulties, problems and failures in life. difficulties, problems and failures in life.
3. May my teachers be well, happy 4. May my relatives be well, happy
and peaceful. and peaceful.
May no harm come to them May no harm come to them,
May no difficulties come to them, May no difficulties come to them,
May no problems come to them. May no problems come to them,
May they always meet with success. May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, May they also have patience, courage,
understanding and determination understanding and determination
to meet and overcome inevitable to meet and overcome inevitable
difficulties, problems and failures in life. difficulties, problems and failures in life.
5. May my friends be well, happy 6. May all indifferent persons be
and peaceful. well, happy and peaceful.
May no harm come to them May no harm come to them,
May no difficulties come to them, May no difficulties come to them,
May no problems come to them. May no problems come to them,
May they always meet with success. May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage May they also have patience, courage,
understanding and determination understanding and determination
to meet and overcome inevitable to meet and overcome inevitable
difficulties, problems and failures in life. difficulties, problems and failures in life.
7. May my enemies be well, happy 8. May all living beings be well,
and peaceful. happy and peaceful.
May no harm come to them May no harm come to them,
May no difficulties come to them, May no difficulties come to them,
May no problems come to them. May no problems come to them,
May they always meet with success. May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, May they also have patience, courage,
understanding and determination understanding and determination
to meet and overcome inevitable to meet and overcome inevitable
difficulties, problems and failures in life. difficulties, problems and failures in life.
Adapted from the Vandana books of the Bhavana Society and the Washington Buddhist Vihara