Buddhist monk Ajahn Brahm shares his personal approach to loving-kindness meditation, also known as metta. Stage One A Warm Fire in Your Heart Metta can accurately be compared with a warm and radiant fire burning in your heart. You cannot expect to light the fire of loving-kindness by starting with a difficult object, no more than you can expect to light a campfire by [...]
About Ajahn Brahmavamso
Cultivate Tranquility, Harvest Insight
The classical Theravada model of meditation employs the practices of shamatha and vipassana, both. Ajahn Brahmavamso explains the path of tranquility and insight. Introduction by Bhikkhu Bodhi. In America, Theravada Buddhist meditation is often flatly identified with the practice of vipassana, even to the extent that those who practice within this tradition speak of [...]
How Jhana Quells the Five Hindrances
If you think you’re seeing things as they really are, think again, says Ajahn Brahm. Unless you’ve had the deep experience of letting go known as the jhana states, there is only a myriad of illusions. Meditation is the way of letting go. First you let go of all perceptions of time to enter the timeless present moment. Then you let go of inner speech to rest peacefully in [...]
Restlessness, Contentment, and “Kindfulness”
The Buddhist monk known as Ajahn Brahm talks about developing a sense of contentment, and not finding fault in your meditation practice. Restlessness arises because we do not appreciate the beauty of contentment. We do not acknowledge the sheer pleasure of doing nothing. We have a faultfinding mind rather than a mind that appreciates what’s already there. Restlessness in [...]
