“May all be safe from harm; May all be happy and peaceful; May all be strong and healthy; May all be free from suffering.” A Simple Metta Prayer
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Metta, or loving kindness, is a central concept and practice within Buddhism. Simply put, metta is an attitude of friendliness and benevolence towards others. We can show this benevolence towards other persons, but also to animals, and perhaps even to plants, which though perhaps not sentient in the way that we are, certainly can be helped or harmed. The person who has cultivated loving kindness has a beautiful soul, in contrast to the person who is angry and rancorous, whose soul is as twisted as his angry and bitter face. The benefits of developing loving kindness are many and varied. You will sleep better. You will be healthier overall. You will have better relationships, with less chance of hurting or being hurt by others. The person who has developed loving kindness to perfection has no enemies, and thus no one would want to harm them. Finally, this person will be reborn into a heavenly realm after death.
– Christopher Simon
