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AN INTRODUCTION TO |
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"The practice of Loving Kindness was first taught by Buddha as an antidote to fear. He sent a group of monks to meditate in a forest that was inhabited by tree spirits. The spirits resented the presence of the monks and tried to drive them away by appearing as horrible visions. The monks were terrified and ran back to Buddha, begging him to send them to a different forest. He said; 'I am going to send you back to the forest, but I will provide you with the only protection you need.' He then gave the first teaching on metta, loving-kindness. When the monks returned to the forest and practiced loving-kindness, the tree spirits were so moved by the loving energy that filled the forest that they resolved to care for and serve the monks in whatever way they could." —Sogyal Rinpoche The first step we take away from selfishness and towards altruism, limitless compassion and our ultimate enlightenment, is to engage in the practice of loving kindness. Through this practice, we learn to love ourselves, and create the basis for loving others. As Maitreya said, "The water of compassion courses through the canal of loving kindness." Filling our hearts with love is a way of being tremendously happy. It softens our heart and brings gentleness. The practice of loving kindness is a very effective way to work with emotions. Going through the different stages of the practice provides an opportunity to meet, and purify, different negative emotions which normally block our ability to love. It is also especially effective for overcoming the problems of lack of self-love and low self-esteem. The Buddhist training in loving kindness also includes meditations on compassion, joy and equanimity. Since loving kindness is seen as the main meditation and the other three as being extensions and refinements of loving kindness, this introductory course will mainly focus on loving kindness. While loving kindness stands as a self-contained training, in the Mahayana tradition it is seen as a basis and preparation for training in bodhichittta, and provides a platform for entering into the four immeasurables. |
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PREREQUISITES AND LEVEL OF THIS COURSE
The
prerequisites for this Foundation Level course is completion of two
Rigpa Introductory Level courses. Introduction to the Practice of Loving Kindness presents a practical training in loving kindness in a rich and profound, yet simple and accessible way. The teachings and the practice will be based on teachings by Sogyal Rinpoche including Chapter 12 of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. This course is suitable for both newer students and more experienced students and is equivalent to the course presently offered in Rigpa centers. Meditation practitioners will find that it is an excellent complement to sitting practice. Those practicing ngöndro will find loving kindness enriches their ngöndro practice. In particular, it helps students' capacity to receive blessings and to feel the loving quality of those blessings. Each session combines studying video selections of teachings by Sogyal Rinpoche with practice, personal reflection and group discussion. Participants will receive advice on how to study these teachings as well as suggestions for daily practice, and are invited to participate in an online discussion forum.
This course
presents the approach of Sogyal Rinpoche, based on the oral lineage
of instruction and guidance handed down to him by his teachers in
the Nyingma or ‘ancient’ tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
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DISTANCE