The first three weeks of the "Real Happiness Challenge" are all about concentration and mindfulness of breathing, body, thoughts and feelings. (I will not explain these methods here; most interested people are already familiar with them.) In the fourth week, Sharon Salzberg introduces Metta meditation.
Illustration for LOving KIndness MeditationMetta Meditation – a Path to Happiness
Metta meditation, also known as Maitri meditation, Bodhicitta meditation, Lovingkindness meditation, heart meditation and kindness meditation, is considered the path to happiness. According to Buddhist beliefs, the starting instagram data point of this path to happiness lies within ourselves. There, a source of love and compassion bubbles up.
For Sharon Salzberg, love is not a feeling that comes and goes or even comes from outside; rather, love is a source that is inherent in every human being. The art is to uncover and cultivate this source again and again. For the benefit of ourselves, all other beings and the earth. The separation between self-love and love for someone or something else is thereby removed, because the source is always there for everyone. Even if there are times when it only drips wearily.
Metta meditation ensures that the source is continually exposed and flows anew. To do this, Sharon Salzberg introduces an exercise every day for a week. I have recorded a few for you here so that you can get a first impression.