Thank you, Doug!

your scholarly approach, in positive meaning, indepth, insightful straightens the paths of my practise. I didn't know about boundless radiating practice being older and I mixed first feeling compassion towards myself with radiating it around then. I'll stick with the explanation of old practice you presented for a time at least.

That the person-oriented practice might reify the (notion of) self (and the "radiance-practice" thus is kind of superior) is obvious, very obvious indeed! 😳 But I've never considered that before! 🤔😂 So I'm very thankful that you mention it here! 🙏

Thanks so much for your videos and teaching Doug. I feel I have learned and benefitted from them greatly. As for this subject of compassion, I have a couple of comments. Regarding compassion for those who are “evil” or who do harmful things, I find I can feel compassion for them due to what I imagine is their past and present, as well as their future. I think of karma as all of time interconnected. Does that make sense? As for compassion for the self as being potentially problematic, my sense that as long as one associates the self in an interconnected means with others, then it would be fine. But to be compassionate for oneself as a separate individualistic self may be unhelpful. Again, does that make sense to you? Both thoughts stress interconnectedness, one of time and the all beings. Last, I find when I am trying to radiate compassion across the globe, I find it helpful to think of individuals in different cities as the generic wave of compassion wraps the globe. But I am still a neophyte in this practice and have much to learn. Thanks again so much, from my heart to yours. Andrew

I have just came across teachings of Thai monk Bhikkhu Buddhadasa. If I have understood correctly,I think he seems to say that later commentary tradition such as that of Buddhaghosa didn’t catch real essence of Buddha’s teaching especially when it comes to ‘not self ‘ . From my obvious observation most present day Theravada sounds more like Buddhaghosa’s commentary and sub commentary traditions with all superstitious trappings . I am still very new student of Dhamma but I am naturally attracted to more open logical discussions rather then blind faith some Buddhist traditions are inclined to . Good job Dough. Please make an honest Video on S.N Goenka’s claim that his technique is originally taught by Buddha and Buddha prophesied that someone ( supposedly Goenkaji) will revive Dhamma back to India and through out the world . I have attended to 3 of his 10 day courses. The whole vibration theory , kalapas , cleansing of old Sankhara by remaining equanimous, Bhanga body and so on sounds very non Buddhist and new age to me . On top of that vulnerable people are told to take their mental health episodes and posture related pains as just Sankhara cleansing and to remain equanimous.They are doing much harm to people then any good.

It's fascinating that the Buddhaghosa style progression from the self to, ultimately, the difficult person is seen as inferior, and of course it does make sense in terms of the issue of the self. I have never had any luck with the Buddhaghosa style progression, and I must admit I have never really tried the Metta Sutta radiation method because it has always seem too abstract, but now I am determined to give it a serious go. I actually searched for this video because I was wondering what you might have say on the topic, because I was thinking about it, and had occurred to me that all of these practices were developed in the rather odd context of monastics living in a particular cultural setting, and that it might be more effective to develop compassion by actually going out and trying to be helpful and compassionate to people who are suffering, such as, for example people looking for help at soup kitchens or homeless shelters, or prisoners, or people who are old and lonely, etc. I get the impression that those were not the sort of thing that Buddha and is disciples spent a lot of time on, and I'm guessing that issues of social rank would've made that difficult at the time. One somewhat related practice that I have had some success with, while not something that made the list of Brahma viharas, is gratitude. It's quite effective to make a list of things/people/circumstances for which you are grateful each day, and doing so does seem to have noticeable impact on one's outlook. I might consider trying it as a warm-up to some kind of compassion practice.

It s true 🙏❤️

Vasubandhu's Abhidharmakośabhāṣyam is on offer at £143. I think I will take 2 ;-)

I enjoy and appreciate your videos. Very helpful. Do you have recommendations for resources or other sacred texts on meditation techniques and teachings similar to the ones you mentioned in this video? Thank you!

Hi Doug! I'm a little confused by the Subha Sutta. In it the Buddha speaks of the Brahmā realm and also companionship with Brahmā. I thought that was Hinduism and that Buddhism does not teach of a creator God.