Mudita and Metta to Uplift Our Mind in a World Troubled by Pain | Ajahn Dhammasiha

With so much negative news about wars and crises reching us all the time, it is easy for our mind to become dejected. But a dejected mind is an obstruction to ourselves, and of no benefit to anyone. Ajahn Dhammasiha recommends to develop 'Muditā' (Sympathic Joy - Rejoicing in other's good actions) and 'Mettā' (unconditional loving kindness to all beings) to raise our mind our of dejection and negativity.

Even with all the bad things happening, there are still countless examples of good, beautiful and admirable persons and actions.

We have a choice what we pay attention to ('manasikāra'): We can focus on wars and frustating events, or we can focus on the Noble qualities of the Buddha. Either is possible to do, but the second will result in a much brighter and happier mind.

Ajahn also points out the importance to include ourselves in our loving kindness.

There are so many beings in the universe, that we may feel like only a tiny proportion of our loving kindness should go to ourselves - after all, we're only one of countless beings. But that's not how it works. In practical terms, it can be helpful to devote full 50% of our effort and energy in mettā meditation to ourselves, and the other 50% to all other beings!

Once we can feel, really experience, loving kindness to ourselves, then we can increase the proportion devoted to others. But as long as we can't really feel Mettā to ourselves, we unlikely to succeed in sending mettā to everyone. Our own welfare is the very foundation of any service or help we can do to others.

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