Balanced Existence

We all want to be loved, so consider the message of the single most loved figure in history - Jesus. He said love your neighbor as yourself. He even said love your enemy. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you, and so on. Considering how we all wish to be loved and the example of the most loved figure in history our course is clear. It’s not hard to see that the most powerful way to receive love is to give it. The more of it you give the more of it you have. When you give it to “others” you give it to your “self”. By giving unconditional love you will attract true love to yourself.

It is arguable that both insight and loving kindness (metta) meditation practices should be developed together. For metta strengthens mindfulness which in turn strengthens metta. The Indian tradition of sharing merit generated from a religious act such as insight meditation with all living beings gives us good reason to suppose that the two should be developed together. Firstly, though, it will pay to compare the two practices by way of an account of what each entails.