METTA LAB — Weekly Slow Session 12 — Recap of Painful Practice with Slow Realisation

Sutta Meditation Series

Welcome to Mettā Lab @suttameditationseries

Mettā Lab is a weekly YouTube livestream Dhamma session on the Sutta Meditation Series channel to develop and intensify our loving kindness (mettā) practice. The focus is on developing *supramundane* loving kindness in accordance with the Buddha's teachings in the Pali Canon.

In this session, we recap the First Doorway to Nibbana or Painful Practice with Slow Realisation which culminates in immeasurable mettā, and Q&A on this insight pathway.

— Timestamp —

00:00 Mettā Lab - 8 March 2025

04:18 Start of session

06:19 How to get the best out this session

08:39 First Profitable Direction & Noble Eightfold Path

11:17 First Unprofitable Direction

14:55 Recap of the First Doorway to Nibbana or Painful Practice with Slow Realisation

50:42 Short meditation on Karaṇīyametta Sutta

1:02:37 Question on why it's easier to meditate on the unprofitable directions over the profitable directions

1:14:26 Question on struggles with illness and having challenges to cultivating metta, despite earlier easeful practice

1:25:22 Question on forgetting steps halfway through the meditation

1:26:54 Question on developing the asubha meditation and not finishing with loving kindness

1:29:53 Question on certain key points in the meditation associated with higher concentration

1:35:07 Comments on next session and Sharing the merit and blessings

Next session, we will start to examine and practise the Buddha's instructions on (3) how to develop mettā with the seven enlightenment factors (bojjhangas), based on the Mettāsahagata Sutta (SN 46.54), which distinguishes the Buddha's teaching of mettā from all others. And liberation of mind by loving kindness (mettācetovimutti)

These are purposely "slow sessions" to gradually learn (or revise), develop and practise each step of these sutta meditations. Each session will be 1 to 1.5 hours duration. And during the session there will be short meditation periods. It may take a few weeks to complete each sutta meditation.

*Mettā Lab is for beginners and meditators who wish to refresh and deepen their loving kindness practice. Everyone is welcome.*To watch the YouTube livestream - https://youtube.com/live/7bIiAeV1sRg

For all enquiries - [email protected]

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai