Cattāri Brahmavihārā

I was listening to something today and happened to hear someone talking about the benefits of prayer for people convalescing or undergoing surgery. I seem to recall that this is a hotly contested idea but for whatever reason my interest was piqued because the mind made an instant association with the impact of metta upon others. As I pondered it on my way to the train I tried to thinnk of specific occurrences in the Canon where the Lord Buddha spoke about the effects of metta on other beings but, aside from the Discourse on the Benefits of Metta, the only thing that came to mind was the encounter with the bull-elephant Nalagiri. As inspiring as it is it still wasn’t quite what I was looking for but what has continued to hold my interest is the idea of praying for others’ well-being, praying that they be free of suffering, etc.

How, really, is this so different from radiating loving kindness? I am interested to explore this idea of metta pervasion qua a form of prayer especially as it can help me to open my mind and heart to others who are trying to practice a life of harmlessness and purity within their own (largely theistic) traditions. May all beings be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.