The usual categories recommended for mettā practice can be summarized as follows: yourself people you admire—your benefactors for example people you are close to—your family and friends neutral people—your acquaintances, such as neighbors, coworkers, people you see in stores and restaurants you frequent difficult people—ones who have harmed you or those you care about or who have caused harm to society or the environment all beings—you can start with those in your physical proximity and work outward in expanding areas until you cover the whole planet; then expand your mettā to all the beings
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