How You Can Participate in the World Day of Metta 2013

World Day of Metta, March 20, 2013!


On March 20, 2013, the organizers of the World Day of Metta are asking people all around the world to open their hearts and from 12 PM to 2 PM, local time, to meditate on and offer the following metta to all beings of the world:

THE METTA 

May all beings have fresh clean water to drink

May all beings have food to eat

May all beings have a home

May all beings have someone to share love with

May all beings know their true purpose

May all beings be well and happy

May all beings be free from suffering

Today, I shall do what I can to make this so.

The offering of metta, or loving-kindness, to others is a non-denominational act.   You don't have to believe in anything except the power of love to change the world! Compassionate hearts of all persuasions, or no persuasions, are invited to join others around the world in 2 hours of loving-kindness.

The goal of the World Day of Metta is to say this Metta at least once for each of the 7 billion plus humans on the planet, as well as all the sentient beings who share the Earth with us.  Visit the Web site for more information about participating!

At my main blog, Metta Refuge, those who are interested in learning more about the Buddhist practice of metta can find a wealth of information and dharma teachings on how to do loving-kindness, or metta, meditation.

A good place to start is the Basic Metta page, which gives beginning instruction explaining  how to do metta, or loving-kindness meditation as taught by the Buddha:

At the Basic Metta page you can download free PDFs by experienced dharma teachers for your personal study.  You will also find links to introductory articles by some outstanding Buddhist teachers:

Ajahn Brahmavamso Teaches Loving-kindness

Bringing Metta to Daily Life—A Talk by Bhante Vimalaramsi

Metta—The Healing Power of Visualizing and Radiating Love Toward Others
(Acharya Buddharakkhita)

May We All Be Happy—Beginning Metta
(Gil Fronsdal)

At Metta Refuge you will also find many articles about loving-kindness meditation that will help take your deeper into your metta practice.  You might want to look into some of these articles:

Metta Phrases for Dealing with Self-Hatred and Self-judgment

The Karaniya Metta Sutta and Healing Through Loving-kindness (with Music)

Audio Dharma-An Introduction to Metta by Gil Fronsdal

Metta in the Moment


Goodwill—Not a Pink Cloud of Cotton Candy Covering the World


I look forward to joining my brothers and sisters in every nation in this great world-wide metta on March 20, 12 PM to 2 PM local time!

The Great Aspiration of Metta

As a mother, at the risk of her life,

Watches over her only child,

Let him cherish an unbounded mind

For all living beings.

Let him have love for the whole world

And develop an unbounded mind

Above, below and all around,

Boundless heart of goodwill, free of hatred,

Standing, walking, sitting or lying down,

So long as he be awake,

Let him cherish this thought,

This is called divine abiding here.

~ Karaniyametta (Metta) Sutta

POSTSCRIPT:

You might enjoy reading a Metta Refuge essay I wrote after my two hours of metta for World Day of Metta.  I explain some of the ways I approached the metta and also share some insights I have learned over years of practicing loving-kindness meditation. You can read it here:

How Practice and Creativity Can Open Up Your Practice

For more in-depth dharma articles and instruction, visit: METTA REFUGE

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