We looked at the practice of metta, often translated as loving-kindness, this week. We read an article by JoAnn Harper from Lion's Roar magazine, in which she writes:

I discovered that while loving-kindness is taught in many ways by different teachers, ultimately it is an equalizer and an antidote to hatred and aversion. It is a state that can be developed through practices that help us cultivate the unconditional, expansive qualities of the heart. Metta is the great balancer to insight and mindfulness practices.

After reading, we walked through a brief practice and then discussed our experience, first in pairs and then as a group. It was helpful to have people who were completely new to the practice, some who were familiar, and others who had practiced it for at time.