Metta is a working state, not a mood

In the Thai tradition, metta — loving kindness — is part of the technique. It sets the pressure, the pace and the willingness to stop when something says stop.

It is not sentimentality. On a hard day it can look like nothing more than steady hands and full attention, which is often exactly what is needed.

You can feel the difference as a receiver. Hands that are only performing a sequence and hands that are actually with you do not feel the same.