(1)
We start by developing Loving Kindness just to one being, whoever we find most easy. Even an animal like a cat or cute puppy will do. Then we have to keep on going until we actually FEEL somthing. Loving Kindness is an emotion, not just a thinking exercise.

Even if we take a long time with just one being, that's fine. Once we can really feel the emotion, a lot has been accomplished, and it's quite easy to include more beings and spread out our Mettā


(2)
We have to include ourselves. It may appear like that's not so important, as there are countless other beings that we want to radiate kindness towards.

However, in reality we ourselves are very important, and loving kindness to ourselves is a BIG part of our practice. 


(3)
Loving Kindness kindness doesn't mean agreeing with or condoning or supporting any harmful, unwholesome actions. We're still fully aware and mindful and con perfectly distinguish wholesome and unwholesome. However, we're wishing well even to those that act nasty, in the sense that we wish them to develop kindness and wisdom, that they abandon all anger and hatred.






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Loving Kindness: 3 Things to Get it Going | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri

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Dhammatalks, Chanting, Precepts and Meditation 
with Ajahn Dhammasiha and other 
experienced Senior Buddhist Monks 
in the Theravada Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah. 
Recorded at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, 
Brisbane, Australia.

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Before departure to the large gathering of Sangha at Amaravati Ajahn Dhammasiha shares reflections on the importance of Sangha meeting in harmony for the longevity of the Sasana.
More than 140 monks are expected to gather on occasion of the Acariya Puja for Luang Por Sumedho's 90th birthday.
Meeting frequently in harmony, conducting business in harmony, and parting in harmony, are the first 3 conditions for non-decline of the Sangha expounded by the Buddha. Luang Por's birthday provides an excellent opportunity to us monks in the tradition of Ajahn Chah to do exactly this.
Another factor for non-decine is to honour the senior monks, the 'leaders of the herd', as the Buddha described them. Again, our meeting will serve this purpose.


By the way, we’ve got playlists of our Visiting Teachers, Chanting, Guided Meditations and Sutta Explorations available on our Spotify Profile here:
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Sangha Gains Strength from Gathering in Harmony | LP Sumedho 90th Birthday | Ajahn Dhammasiha

To commence free distribution of our Dhammagiri Tees 2nd batch, Ajahn Dhammasiha goes through the meaning of every symbol and writing on the shirt:
1. Twelve spoked Dhammacakka (Dhamma Wheel)
2. Tiratana (Three Jewels) 

 with Trident symbolizing Triple Gem
 Vajira (Diamond/Thunder Bolt) symbolizing the power of wisdom that can cut defilements in the mind, just like a diamond that is harder than any other stone, or like a flach of lighting that can destroy the darkness of delusion
  Lotus symbolizing the potential to rise above the dirt of the world to a state of total purity
  8 Petals of the lotus symbolizing the Noble 8-Fold Path leading to that purity.

3. Tisaraṇa (Triple Refuge) - The Pali formula of going for refuge to the Triple Gem of Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha. This apparently simple declaration actually has profound implications. If we're truly taking refuge in Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, than we're also endeavoring: 

  To keep the 5 Precepts and establish ourselves in Virtue
  To practise generosity and kindness 
  To develop the Divine Abodes of Loving Kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy & Equanimity 
  To cultivate calm, tranquility, peacefulness and concentration 
  To develop mindfulness, awareness, wisdom, insight, knowledge, understanding.



By the way, we've got playlists of our Visiting Teachers, Chanting, Guided Meditations and Sutta Explorations available on our Spotify Profile here:
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Tiratana & 12 Spoked Dhamma Wheel | Dhammagiri T-Shirts Second Batch | Ajahn Dhammasiha

Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to a question about the meaning of 'akāliko' (timeless).
Timelessness is one of the qualities of the Dhamma, as described by the Buddha in the well known formula:

 "Svākkhāto Bhagavatā Dhammo, sandiṭṭhiko, akāliko, ehipassiko, opanayiko, paccattaṃ veditabbo viññūhī'ti"


 "The Dhamma is well expounded by the exhaulted one, visible here and now, timeless, inviting investigation, practicable, to be experienced for themselves by the wise."

There are two aspects of 'Timelessness' in regards to the Dhamma:

 Regarding 'Dhamma' as conceptual teaching expressed in words, it's timeless in the sense that it just as valid and applicable now as it was 2,500 years ago at the time of the Buddha, and leading to the same results
 Regarding 'Dhamma' as the state of freedom, Nibbāna, experienced internally in our heart as the result of liberating insight, it is timeless in the sense that Nibbāna totally transcends time. As there is nothing impermanent in the experience of the Deathless Element, there can't by any 'time'.

However, even though the supreme timelessness of Nibbāna is not easy to realize, we can get an idea of timelessness already on earlier stages of the path:

  The experience of 'samādhi'/'jhāna' (blissful internal unification of mind; 'concentration') is largely timeless in the sense that there are no changes experienced as long as the state lasts. Someone experiencing 4th jhāna may sit for 12 hours, but on emerging from it, wouldn't know how long it lasted, as there are no changes to measure time in samādhi. They would have to check external clues like a clock or position of the sun to gauge the time passed. However, samādhi can't give us absolute timelessness, as the experince will end once the conditions sustaining it are exhausted

However, jhāna is also not exactly easy to experience for most. But we can get at least a whiff of timelessness already at a fairly basic level of Dhamma practice: Present Moment Awareness 

  If we simply observe whatever phenomenom arises in the present moment, we experience timelessness in the sense that all worries and concerns re past and future drop away. This is usually more than 90% of all our worries. Unless we experience physical pain right here and now, all our suffering tends to be memories of the past, or worries about the future.

Simply by staying pin-point right here in the presence, we can get a break from most of our suffering in the timeless experience of the here-and-now!


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Timeless | Akaliko | Buddhist Dhamma Talk | Ajahn Dhammasiha

Ajahn Dhammasiha explains 5 powerful benefits we can receive from the simple ceremony of Taking Refuge in Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha, together with committing to the 5 precepts:

 Taking Refuge reduces anxiety
 Taking Refuge uplifts our heart and protects us from feeling down and depressed
  Taking Refuge is an act generating heaps of good karma, if we really mean it and do it wholeheartedly. And the Buddha called good karma a synonym for happiness 

5 Benefits of Taking Refuge in Triple Gem | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri

Ajahn Dhammasiha responds to a question how we can develop gratitude methodically.
Being grateful (Kataññū Katavedī) has been praised by the Buddha as belonging entirely to the sphere of a truly good person. However, he also pointed out that it is a rather rare character trait.
Gratitude may not always come naturally, so we have to make a deliberate effort to develop that character trait.
For example, we can start doing Buddha Pujas with an emphasis on a feeling of gratitude to the Buddha for pointing out the way leading to the end of all suffering.
Another good exercise is simply writing down a list of all the things we have received in our life from others that were beneficial and helpful to us.
Of course, we could just as well keep a list of all bad things we had to endure. Both lists are 'objectively' valid.
But how does it make us feel to dwell on them?
How do we feel after thinking for an hour about anything bad anyone may have done to us?
How do we feel after thinking for an hour about all the good we have received?
Simply doing that much will show us how much more enjoyable, emotionally uplifting, and leading to a sense of contentment it is to dwell on the 'gratitude list', rather than the 'complaints' list 

Loving Kindness: 3 Things to Get it Going | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Dhammagiri

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