PRACTICE NIGHT
Radical Love
Wednesday 15 January 2025 7pm – 9:15pm
We all know what love is... or do we?
In the Buddhist tradition there are two distinct kinds of love - pema and metta.
Pema could be said to be 'everyday' love, or sentimental love. This is the kind of love where we have some kind of attachment to, or interest in, the other person's love for us. It might be love for a partner, or a son or daughter, a friend, or one's parents. This kind of love is very common but unfortunately it is also conditional and transactional - if the other person doesn't meet our expectations of them, there can be trouble!
Metta is not like this. Metta is radical. Metta is unconditional, universal love. A wholly accepting love. It doesn't have any conditions at all. This love is there come what may, regardless the other person's behaviour, regardless even of whether they please or displease us.
Our practice as spiritual practitioners is to cultivate metta for everyone - even those we don't like. This work also involves transforming the ordinary love we feel for others (pema) into metta, so that our close and intimate relationships develop more stability and more mutual support.
Tonight Shakyapada will explore the radical nature of metta and see how, by cultivating it hour by hour, day by day, we can all enrich our lives and those of the people we meet in the world. And she will show how, ultimately, metta can lead us all the way to Awakening.
All over 18 welcome - you don't need to be Buddhist or have any intention of becoming Buddhist!
The evening is free but we ask you to make a small donation to help cover our costs. we suggest around £10 but please give whatever feels appropriate.