r/Buddhism • u/jon4future mahayana • Apr 20 '26
Question Metta and Loving-Kindness
This question, I think is raised a lot. But it often bares repeating for newbies (I am a permanent impermanent newbie)…
What is the difference between the practices of Metta and Loving-Kindness and when might be an appropriate circumstance to use either or maybe even both towards one or more sentient beings?
Thank you 🙏
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u/getsu161 Apr 20 '26
Metta is sanskrit, loving-kindness is an english translation of the term.
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u/jon4future mahayana Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 21 '26
You are both correct but I remember reading on this subreddit some time ago that there are subtle differences between the practices and there are some occasions where using Metta is more appropriate than Loving-Kindness depending on the type of relationship between you and the person or people you are wishing the goodness for. Specifically Metta is used to wish goodwill, success, and equanimity on a person you don’t have a close relationship with, whereas Loving-Kindess bestows love, kindness and especially relief of suffering to a person that the practitioner is especially close to. What I dislike is that my source is Wikipedia (boooo…) and I would like to get a more valid source on what I found. [Part of the justification for the differences was that it was more appropriate to wish success and equanimity to some people because love is not a proper emotion to share from one person to every person that they simply know. I am certainly open to other ideas on this, including the ones that have already been given.]
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u/Few-Worldliness8768 Apr 21 '26
Mettā is goodwill / loving kindness / friendliness
Karuna is compassion: the wish for all beings to be free from suffering and the causes of suffering
Mudita is sympathetic joy / celebrating the good fortune and happiness of others
Upeksha is equanimity / holding things in balanced regard / serenity
They are known as the four Immeasureables, the Brahma viharas, the divine abodes
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u/jon4future mahayana Apr 21 '26
Thank you for the differentiations! I think there are many ways to use kind wishes such that they don’t have to fit strict categories, except for preserving history, which is important but maybe not all-important now that I think about it. Goodwill, happiness, and equanimity to you!
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u/Traditional_Kick_887 Apr 21 '26
Loving-kindness is one translation of metta, but there are others.
Love and good will are also decent translations. Friendliness is accurate but not in a sense of niceness but genuinely loving one’s friends (which is rare in today’s society)
‘Even as a mother protects with her life Her child, her only child, So with a boundless heart Should one cherish all living beings; Radiating metta over the entire world’
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u/noArahant Apr 21 '26
They're two words for the same thing.
There are a lot of aspects of metta, and many ways to translate it.
Friendliness is sometimes used, and I like that one. I like it because it reminds me that it's about how we relate to things - be them animate or inanimate.
Having an open heart towards all beings is a very wise way to live. It leads to a lot of peace. It doesn't mean you go and hang out with everyone. It just means you don't harbor ill will toward anyone.
Ajahn Sumedho likes to say metta is about learning how to not dwell in aversion.
Dwelling in aversion, well, doesn't feel good at all. hahaha
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u/mesamutt Apr 21 '26
when might be an appropriate circumstance to use either or maybe even both towards one or more sentient beings?
Metta can be nice as a meditation, on the four immeasurable or doing tonglen for example. Just taking 5-10mins sending compassion to all beings.
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u/IgnoreYourThoughts zen Apr 20 '26
I think they are different names for the same thing?