A Study of Loving-Kindness (Metta) Meditation for Physical and Mental Health Based on the Karaniya Metta Sutta - Kovida, Ven. (Phekon) 2024MAE008 (Taunggyi: Shan State Buddhist University, 2025)
This study examines the benefits of Loving-Kindness (metta) meditation for physical and mental health, and also explores spiritual development based on the Karaniya Metta Sutta. (Metta) is Loving-Kindness, friendliness, goodwill, non-violence, and it is indeed a universal, unselfish, and all-embracing love. It is one of the crucial qualities for human beings to maintain good physical and mental health, and it is one of the ten perfections that the Buddha practiced for the benefit of all living beings. The research is grounded in a desire to deepen my understanding of Loving-Kindness (metta), exploring how it's presented in both Pali discourses and scholarly works. The study aims to clarify (mettas) significance, meaning, practice, and its impact on physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Additionally, this qualitative study uses textual analysis, primarily examining the Suttanipata Pali and relevant scholarly works. This paper researches the benefits of practicing Loving-Kindness (metta), focusing on its contributions to physical and mental health, and specifically how it can lead to the noble stage of a strem-enterer sotapanna and an arhantship. Moreover, the findings of this research paper indicate that genuinely cultivating Loving-Kindness (metta) offers practitioners protection from external dangers and leads to significant mental development. Ultimately, this practice is found to facilitate liberation from all suffering. This study discusses the impact of (metta) Loving-Kindness on physical and mental health from a Theravada Buddhist perspective for further empirical study.
Includes bibliographical references.
Keywords: Degree of Master