Led by Rhendy
At the Global Centre for Indic Studies, we continue to explore culturally grounded frameworks that bring contemplative traditions into thoughtful dialogue with contemporary psychological understanding. One such initiative is Metta Healing, a Buddhist-informed psychotherapeutic approach led by Rhendy.
Rooted in the classical Buddhist principle of mettā—often translated as loving-kindness—this approach centres on the cultivation of non-judgmental goodwill toward oneself and others. Within therapeutic settings, mettā is not treated as a sentimental ideal, but as a disciplined practice of attention and emotional regulation.
“Metta begins where self-judgment softens and steady presence replaces control.”
Compassion as a Regulatory Practice
In contemporary psychotherapy, increasing attention is being given to the role of compassion in nervous system regulation. Metta Healing recognises that many psychological difficulties—such as chronic self-criticism, shame, relational anxiety, or emotional withdrawal—are maintained by internal patterns of threat activation. Loving-kindness practice introduces an alternative internal stance, gradually shifting the body-mind from vigilance toward safety.
Through guided contemplative exercises, reflective dialogue, and embodied awareness, participants are invited to observe how attitudes of warmth and goodwill influence breath, posture, and emotional tone. Over time, compassion becomes less conceptual and more regulatory—an internal resource rather than a moral instruction.
Beyond Positive Thinking
Metta Healing does not promote forced optimism or denial of suffering. Instead, it acknowledges pain as part of human experience while cultivating a stable and non-reactive response to it. The practice encourages individuals to sit with discomfort without collapsing into self-judgment or avoidance.
In this way, the approach aligns with trauma-informed principles. Rather than attempting to override distress, it works gently with the nervous system, fostering tolerance, steadiness, and relational safety.
Relational Dimensions of Metta
Buddhist psychology recognises that suffering is often relational—shaped by attachment, loss, comparison, and isolation. Metta practice expands gradually, beginning with oneself and extending toward loved ones, neutral persons, and even those with whom there is conflict. This widening circle of compassion supports shifts in interpersonal perception, softening rigid narratives and reducing reactive cycles.
In therapeutic contexts, this relational orientation can contribute to improved empathy, decreased hostility, and increased social connectedness.
An Integrative Framework
Metta Healing does not position itself as a substitute for medical or psychological treatment. Rather, it offers a contemplative framework that can complement established therapeutic modalities. Its emphasis on attentional training, emotional regulation, and embodied awareness makes it adaptable across individual and group settings.
Under Rhendy’s guidance, the programme emphasises ethical grounding, cultural sensitivity, and psychological responsibility. The intention is not to import spiritual practice into therapy uncritically, but to engage contemplative wisdom with discernment and contextual awareness.
In a time marked by heightened stress and fragmentation, compassion-based approaches offer more than symptom reduction. They invite a reorientation toward self and community grounded in patience, warmth, and shared humanity.
Metta Healing reflects a broader commitment within GCIS to exploring how contemplative traditions can inform contemporary therapeutic dialogue—without collapsing spiritual insight into clinical technique, and without reducing psychology to abstraction.
Further sessions and dialogue forums led by Rhendy will continue to explore the role of compassion in psychological resilience and relational well-being.