You have probably heard about the Buddhist monks protesting in Myanmar. Today, I read this article which revealed that many of these protesters are chanting the Metta Sutra as they walk. Metta is loving kindness and for the last year I've tried to incorporate a practice called Metta Bhavana into my meditation. Metta Bhavana is a technique that helps you cultivate a better mental aptitude for compassion. It can be a powerful experience and I've seen its effects on my life. Actually, it would be more accurate to say I've seen its effects on the lives around me. When I've been disciplined enough to practice, it has allowed me to experience and react to many of the day to day issues in life in way that might otherwise have resulted in pain or anger. I've only begun using this tool but I've seen it work enough in small ways to image how a lifetime of practice could result in radical transformations of entire nations. I find it encouraging to know that practitioners of this ancient technique are able to follow their convictions to the point of passionate non-violent protest against oppression.

The Metta Sutra - The Buddha's Teaching on Loving-kindness

This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:
Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech.
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied.
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.

Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,
Not proud and demanding in nature.
Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.
Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born,
May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
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 kindness over the entire world
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.

Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.