Metta

Hi there,
I've had a bit of a look around this website and not seen much on metta meditation or ethics. Is there a reason for this?
Many Thanks,
Adrian

Hey Adrian... Welcome to forum. That is a good question. I am glad you asked it instead of just assuming we don't care about these matters. The truth is we believe/our direct experience tends to confirm that the progression towards insight is not necessarily dependent on perfect conduct. There are many sites and communities where ethics are a primary focus, we prefer to focus on the progress of awakening. Now Metta and Ethics are essential to living a good life... and we do talk about these issues, just not as much as many similar communities... take a look around and see if there is anything here that appeals to you... we are certainly in favor of upright conduct and Metta etc... we just dont talk about it that much... Perhaps this essay could help give you a clearer perspective on where we are coming from... www.buddhistgeeks.com/2010/06/you-can%E2...nd-magical-thinking/

Hi Mettavajra,

Since the early nineties, I've been asking myself this question: what is the most efficient way to help people awaken? Beginning with the assumption that nothing is too sacred to discard and nothing too profane to embrace, the experiment has evolved into what you see on this site today.

The short answer to your question is that metta is not much discussed here because it is not essential to enlightenment. That does not mean it is not valuable; it most certainly is. It just means it is not essential. The teaching of metta is part of Theravada Buddhism and perhaps to a lesser degree some other schools. But the fact that it is not emphasized in all legitimate modalities of contemplative practice is a clue for us; any essential aspect of the pedagogy of awakening must by definition exist in all successful traditions. By successful traditions, I mean those that are able to consistently lead their adherents to enlightenment.

So, metta and the other Brahma Viharas are beautiful, valuable, and I have and still do practice them on occasion. But they are not essential to awakening and therefore not emphasized here. (The question of whether enlightenment leads to spontaneous manifestation of the Brahma Viharas is another one entirely.) As you have undoubtedly seen, we tend here toward a kind of ruthless unsentimentality in which anything, including Buddhism is considered expendable if it does not directly support awakening. So far, most of us seem to agree that Buddhism does contain much that is useful and it is for that reason that Buddhist language is still featured here.

Religious folks generally find this kind of talk offensive while pragmatic folks find it to be a breath of fresh air. We realize that our approach is not for everyone, but it sure does work for those of us who are drawn to it! People get enlightened here.

By the way, welcome to the site!

Kenneth

(Clayton posted while I was composing mine. Thanks, Clayton, yours is an excellent comment, complete with a helpful link for background.)

I'm reading a treatise by Mahasi Sayadaw in which he says a certain level of morality is Necessary to successfully practice vipassanna and jhana (which has been my experience). I don't think you need to be perfect but being a murderer or a robber would probably make it more difficult to pursue such a path.

He also says that satipatthana is the best way to uproot moral defilements which assail the mind (this has also been my experience). I am a much kinder, generous, non-reactive, compassionate person as a result of this practice.