This talk makes the point that mindfulness and lovingkindness are integral to each other, not separate and that they both lead to wisdom and are supported by wisdom. It includes poetry by Billy Collins and many stories.
Metta is a powerful practice that helps us lead with our hearts, develop concentration, and "purify" our bodies, hearts and minds, working through obstacles to metta and touching our deep luminosity. Yet metta sometimes seems opposed to wisdom and mindfulness practice, and particularly to equanimity. We explore the qualities of equanimity and then how mature metta requires equanimity and mature equanimity requires metta.
This talk discusses the qualities of metta, and the unity of mindfulness and metta -- and how compassion arises as a natural turning of the loving heart.
The training precepts can be utilized for living the dharma in daily life, but to be most effective they need a foundation of faith and intention. Also, by stating the precepts positively and in an expanded fashion, we can find new opportunities for mindfulness and insight.
Mindfulness of the body has the breath at the center and includes all four postures, movement, speaking, listening, feelings and all activity. We can practice mindfulness of the breath and also mindfulness with the breath - developing an enlarged awareness. This practice can take us all the way to enlightenment.
