Mettā

Mettā (Pali) or maitrī (Sanskrit) is benevolence, friendliness, amity, friendship, good will, kindness, close mental union (on same mental wavelength), and active interest in others. It is the first of the four sublime states (Brahmavihāras) and one of the ten pāramīs of the Theravāda school of Buddhism. Mettā is love without the suffering that arises from attachment (known as upādāna).

The cultivation of benevolence (mettā bhāvanā) is a popular form of meditation in Buddhism. In the Theravadin Buddhist tradition, this practice begins with the meditator cultivating benevolence towards themselves, then one's loved ones, friends, teachers, strangers, enemies, and finally towards all sentient beings. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, this practice is associated with tonglen (cf.), whereby one breathes out ("sends") happiness and breathes in ("receives") suffering. Tibetan Buddhists also practice contemplation of the Brahmavihāras, also called the four immeasurables, which is sometimes called 'compassion meditation'.

Mett

Mett is a preparation of minced raw pork that is popular in Germany and Poland. The name originates from mett, either meaning "chopped pork meat without bacon", or the Old Saxon meti, meaning "food". It is normally served with salt and black pepper, and sometimes with garlic, caraway or chopped onion, and eaten raw, usually on a bread roll. At a buffet it is sometimes served as a mettigel (mett hedgehog). it is also sold in the form of Mettwurst, a spicy, raw sausage, often smoked. In Germany, laws require that no more than 35% of the mett is constituted by fat.

Description

The name is derived from Low German mett for "chopped pork meat without bacon", or Old Saxon meti for "food". It is also known as Hackepeter (Northern Germany, Eastern Germany and Berlin). It consists of minced pork meat, normally sold or served seasoned with salt and black pepper, regionally also with garlic or caraway, and eaten raw. It is also permitted to add chopped onion, in which case it is known as Zwiebelmett (onion Mett). Legally, German Mett is not allowed to contain more than 35% fat. Unless pre-packaged, the German Hackfleischverordnung ("minced meat directive") permits mett to be sold only on the day of production.

Georg Heinrich Mettenius

Georg Heinrich Mettenius (24 November 1823 – 18 August 1866) was a German botanist born in Frankfurt am Main. He was son-in-law to botanist Alexander Braun (1805–1877).

In 1845 he received his medical doctorate from the University of Heidelberg. After graduation, he studied marine algae in Helgoland and Fiume. In 1848 he returned to Heidelberg as a privat-docent, and was later appointed an associate professor of botany at Freiburg. In 1852 he became a full professor at the University of Leipzig as well as director of its botanical garden. He died of cholera in Leipzig at the age of 42.

Mettenius was a leading authority in the field of pteridology. The plant genus Metteniusa (family Metteniusaceae) is named in his honor.

Selected publications