The Perfection of Loving-kindness - The benefit of satipatthana

By the development of satipatthana we shall know the difference between the characteristics of metta and of aversion. When we recognize the characteristic of aversion as akusala, panna which sees the disadvantage and the ugliness of aversion and all akusala dhammas is the condition for kusala dhammas further to develop. By the development of satipatthana we shall see that instead of dosa, metta can arise and be developed. We should also develop time and again the perfection of patience, endurance in all kinds of circumstances. It may happen that someone used to feel annoyed when the food was not tasty, but when he can be aware of the characteristic of the citta at such moments and realize that it is akusala citta, he will be satisfied with the food that is right in front of him, and he will not take the trouble to look for something else.
The development of satipatthana is beneficial in all respects. It is beneficial for the development of generosity. It happened that someone was greatly attached to beautiful things and was collecting a great number of them. However, when he had learnt about satipatthana and he developed it, he began to see the disadvantage of attachment, especially when he understood the characteristic of renunciation, nekkhamma. Renunciation is not only renunciation to a high degree, the degree of monkhood, but there can also be renunciation in the layman’s life, that is to say, contentment, the feeling that what one possesses is sufficient. That person felt that he had already enough of the things which are experienced through eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense and mind. He understood that he had too many possessions and that he had not wanted to give them away. However, when he realized the disadvantage of clinging to visible object, sound, odour, flavour and tangible object, he began to understand that what he  possessed was sufficient, that he should have moderation. He wanted to get rid of what he did not need and he knew that in giving things away for the benefit and happiness of others he would accumulate kusala. If one is not in the habit of developing satipatthana, one does not know the characteristics of realities, which are appearing one at a time, as only nama dhammas and rupa dhammas. In that case, other kinds of kusala do not arise easily and there are conditions for akusala to arise more rapidly. However, if someone knows the characteristics of realities that are appearing just as they are and he knows the characteristic of nama dhamma as just nama, not a being or a person, and the characteristic of rupa dhamma as just rupa, not a being or a person, his endurance and patience will increase and also other kinds of kusala will further develop.