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Shoyo Sensei’s Dharma Message:
Buddha-Dharma: Practice – 13
Difference Between METTA(Loving-kindness) and RAGA (Love)
Question (1):
The August issue of the SACBC Temple Newsletter, Golden Chain, explained how one second of
positive mind of a person can transform another’s negative mind. within a second. This is the power
of Dharma. According to the aforementioned sutras (“Ullambana Sutra” in Sanskrit and
“Sariputtattheramatupeti-vatthuvannana” in Pali), both Vens. Mogallana and Sariputta, utilizing the
power of Dharma, rescued their mothers respectively. But, today, we are living in a society where
terrorism is all over. How, do you think, can one person’s pure and beautiful mind transform such
hateful and angry minds into peaceful and happy states? It indeed seems to be totally impossible to
me.
Answer (1):
It is absolutely not easy. It is very difficult. But, as long as terrorism in society is caused and
conditioned by human mind, it necessarily ceases. It is the nature of all caused and conditioned
phenomena. It is indeed difficult, but not impossible. Furthermore, the more people work together,
the more an effective result can be obtained. This is also the nature of the causally conditioned
world. Indeed, that is why the Buddha, in those sutras, instructed both Moggallana and Sariputta to
invite the Buddha himself and many other monks to conduct the Dharma services (Hoji). One light
bulb offers brightness of one bulb. But a hundred bulbs offers hundred times more brightness. In this
way, transformation of such a terrible society into a peaceful one is never impossible when positive
minds work together.
Question (2):
How does bright, happy and positive mind arise?
Answer (2):
One of them is “Practice of Metta (Loving-kindness).” Metta means to care. It derives from the term
that means “friend.” Friends are those to whom we extend caring mind. In Buddhism, Metta and
Love are strictly distinguished.
Question (3):
What is the difference between Metta and Love?
Answer (3):
According to the Buddhist psychological analysis, Love is the mental state of attachment of “like”
called “Raga” which is caused by selfishness. Love and Hatred are both sides of the same coin. They
are not two different mental states, but actually one. ,Depending on the situation, sometimes Love
activates, and sometimes Hatred activates. Two who were strongly loving each other till yesterday
can hate today, or even can kill the other due to anger or hatred. We hear such news daily. But, it is
not strange. Love can be melted down to attachment and greed, which further can be melted down to
ego-centeredness, which is also the cause of hatred. Love can be changed into Hatred at any time
depending on the situation. When expectations are not satisfied, love turns into Anger and Hatred.
But, Metta is different from Love. Metta is the mental state which is liberated from selfishness,
attachment, anger, and ignorance. Love is conditional, while Metta is unconditional -- It is caring
mental state regardless of conditions. Metta is the fundamental spirit in Buddhism. Metta applies not
only to neighbors, but to all living beings.
Question (4):
Is the practice of Metta something like a religious prayer?
Answer (4):
No, it is not. If you go to the gym, for example, and keep saying, “Please, Buddha, make my body
stronger and healthier,” it may be a prayer. But, if you go to the gym and exercise every day or do
jogging every day, you are not praying. Just like that, Metta is an exercise of mind. Look into the
mechanism of the mind closely - it strengthens the mind’s weak muscle with caring and lovingkindness.
A healthy and strong body is the result of every day exercise. Likewise, a healthy and strong mind is
the outcome of every day and night’s exercise. When you keep moving a certain part of a body
every day, the muscle of that part becomes stronger. Likewise, when you keep exercising Metta
every day, the muscle of the mind is cultivated with loving-kindness and care. This is the nature of
Causal Conditionality.
Why does Metta exercise result as a mind stronger in Caring and Loving-kindness? We don’t know.
That is the way it is (Shinran Shonin’s “Jinen Honi”). The Buddha himself programmed the Metta
so as to make the mind stronger in Loving-kindness and Carimg. All Buddhist practices are designed
by the Buddha himself so as to produce positive energy. It is the Power of Dharma, Other-Power, or
Amida’s Original Power. (*On the contrary, Self-power of Self-centeredness results in negative
energy.)
SUMMARY:
Practice of Metta is the re-education of ourrselves. Metta education conditions us to be a
person of Metta. Who is a person of Metta? A Person of Metta is: More Caring, More
Peaceful and Calmer, Brighter and Stronger, More Compassionate, More Joyous and
Happier, Freer from Anger and Hatred, Freer from Greed and Attachment, Freer from
Ignorance and Confusion, and Freer from Self-centeredness.