The Essential Guide to Practices for the Heart

Essential Guide to Practices for the Heart

Compassion, friendliness, kindness, love — these four virtues are the keys to a good life. Every religion in every part of the world agrees that being open-hearted is a good thing. Buddhism works to empower us to cultivate that open-heartedness. In this guide, you’ll find insightful teachings and easy-to-follow meditation instructions for cultivating compassion, joy, equanimity, and of course metta — also known as loving-kindness, friendliness, or goodwill.

Articles

We Need More Heart

It’s not just about mind and meditation, says Ravi Mishra. To meet the needs of this time, Buddhists must take special care to develop their hearts.

A Meditation to Heal Your Inner Child

A Loving-Kindness Meditation to Heal Your Inner Child

Peggy Rowe Ward and Larry Ward on how to give the wounded child inside you the love and compassion they deserve.

How to Practice Metta for a Troubled Time

Mushim Patricia Ikeda teaches us how to generate loving-kindness and good will as an antidote to hatred and fear.

The Heart Is Tender

Gina Sharpe says the most important Buddhist teaching for the world today is to have a compassionate heart.

Say Yes to an Open Heart

Diana Winston reflects on the intertwining of mindfulness and compassion, as practiced with an open heart.

Only Genuine Compassion Will Do

It's not enough to simply to believe compassion is important. We must transform our thoughts and behaviour on a daily basis to cultivate compassion.

Tonglen. Thangka of Avalokiteshvara.

Tonglen: Bad In, Good Out

A teaching on Tonglen practice by Pema Chödrön, and how it begins by taking in our own suffering before we can help others.

16th century sculpture of the eleven headed acalokiteshvara

Bodhichitta: The Excellence of Awakened Heart

The mind of enlightenment, bodhichitta, is always available, in pain as well as in joy. Pema Chödrön lays out how to cultivate this soft spot of bravery.

Generosity Insight Meditation Shambhala Sun Lion's Roar Buddhism Sharon Salzberg

Generosity’s Perfection

Giving up, giving in, just plain giving—Sharon Salzberg says that’s the truly transformative experience.