METTA – THE PRACTICE OF LOVING & KINDNESS AS FOUNDATION FOR INSIGHT MEDITATION – SAYADAW U INDAKA

Foreword

On the occasion of Sayadaw U Indaka’s fiftieth birthday, his book titled ‘Metta’ was first published in Burmese. At that time, many foreign meditators were residing at Chanmyay Yeiktha Meditation Centre, Hmawbi where Sayadaw U Indaka is the resident abbot and meditation teacher. Many foreign meditators expressed an interest in reading about the practice of metta meditation; however, the book was inaccessible because it was unfortunately only available in Burmese. In order to make this book available to a larger audience, I was asked to translate it into English. I began to work on the translation with great enthusiasm but little experience translating books. However, I soon became aware of some of the problems that arise in translating a text into another language and cultural context. Throughout this work, I have tried to be faithful to the meaning and spirit of the original Burmese text, but some changes were necessary. First of all, it is important to state that the Burmese book is the transcription of two dhamma talks about metta that Sayadaw U Indaka gave to a group of Burmese meditators. Typically, a Burmese dhamma talk takes the form of questions and answers; this method ensures that the audience has clearly understood the main points. These short passages have been omitted, as they were unnecessary in the written form. In addition, Sayadaw U Indaka has enlarged the practical instructions for vipassana meditation in the English version. In a few places, some words of explanation have been included as the original meaning might not have been clear to western readers. Other terms which might be unfamiliar are listed in the glossary, so that the reader can look them up. The stories of Uttara, Samavati, and Maga have been included in the appendix since they are well known to Burmese practitioners but not to western readers.

I am greatly indebted to many of my dhamma friends. Without their help, this book would not have come into existence. The lions’s share of the work goes to Judy Witheford (Daw Khemasiri), a Canadian meditator and English teacher, who did the editing. Ven. U Khemissara helped me clarify some passages and translate the Pali passages into English. Valuable advice and suggestions that improved the clarity of the text came from U Sitaramsi, U Vamsarakkhita, Sr. Jutima, U Soe Myint, Marjo, Lisa, and Patricia. I am also very grateful to my Burmese friend Mimmi (May Myint Oo) who was incredibly patient and answered all my questions when I was working on the rough translation.

It is my sincere wish that this book will contribute to a much deeper understanding of metta, the genuine wish for the well-being of all sentient beings. When the fires of anger and aversion are blazing in so many places in the world, it becomes especially important to sprinkle beings with the cool refreshing water of metta. It is my hope that all beings will be inspired to cultivate this quality of the heart and suffuse the world with the agreeable quality of loving-kindness. In addition to cultivating loving-kindness, may the practice of metta serve as a suitable foundation for the practice of vipassana meditation and lead meditators to the highest goal of the Buddhist teaching nibbana, the cessation of all suffering.