Who Do You Love? (Some Thoughts on Metta)

Revisiting the profound simplicity of lovingkindness meditation

Of many meditation and gratitude practices I’ve learned along my yoga and wellness journey, it is metta, or loving-kindness, meditation that has been most transformative in my feelings of compassion for myself and others. The practice is, in one form or another, thousands of years old, and at its root encourages to be a friend - to ourselves, to those around us, and to all beings.

Of many approaches and formulations, I like a simple one:

Directing attention first to yourself, you simply send well-wishes to your own person: May I be happy. May I feel healthy. May I experience peace. May I be safe from suffering and harm.

And then to someone you love: May you be happy. May you feel healthy. May you experience peace. May you be safe from suffering and harm.

And then expanding the circle: to someone neutral; to someone challenging to feel fondness for; to your community; to all beings.

Most of us have at least one person for whom we have complicated feelings - sometimes a family member, or a …