Mettā is a quality of heart-mind that traditionally is talked about as to be cultivated. I like to think of it much more as accessed. We have a sense of what kindness, goodwill, friendliness, peacefulness, happiness is, and yet sometimes it's hard to connect to that, especially during challenging times. So in this meditation the phrases will be “May I…” or “Let it be possible…,” or some version of that. Mettā is something you already have. It’s a muscle you have, and you’re just pumping your muscle. You’re strengthening it. So then when you need it, you have the strength for it.
Rev. Liên Shutt, LCSW
Guest Teacher
Rev. Liên Shutt (she/they) is a priest lineage holder in the Shunryu Suzuki tradition. Born to a Buddhist family in Vietnam, she received her meditation training in the Insight and Soto Zen traditions in the U.S., Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. They were a founding member of the Buddhists of Color in 1998 and currently is the guiding teacher of Access to Zen, an inclusive, anti-oppression sangha and non-profit in the SF Bay Area. She lives on Ohlone land, currently called San Francisco, with her partner, exploring waterways and forests as often as they can. Visit AccessToZen.org for ways to connect and practice together.
She is the author of Home is Here: Practicing Antiracism with the Engaged Eightfold Path, published by North Atlantic Books, 2023.
Rev. Liên Shutt's Upcoming Programs
Class Series | Online
January 4 - May 3, 2025 | Times variable - see details.
Awareness & Interconnection: Community as a Sanctuary
In these troubling times, what matters most to you in life? The heart of Dharma practice is connecting in community through shared values. In this retreat, we will explore the fundamental values that form the basis of an awakened life: generosity, honoring life, connection and intimacy, respectful truth, and maintaining a clear heart-mind. Join us in this connection-based practice intensive to enact and refine our values in order to know them as foundational supports, creating sanctuary for one and all.
Rev. Liên Shutt
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Rev. Liên Shutt through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.