Abstract: With the popularity of mindfulness in western psychology, loving-kindness meditation (LKM), as another traditional Buddhist meditation, is receiving increasing attention among psychologists. Systematic practice of LKM can foster positive emotions and discharge negative emotional reactions, while constant practice of LKM can be utilized as a strategy of emotional regulation. LKM can enhance levels of self-compassion and also cultivate empathy and positive interpersonal relationships. It can also assist in the treatments of some diseases as well. In addition to deepening the existing research directions, future research can propose new directions from the perspective of Buddhism such as effective measurement of loving kindness, exploration of the peculiar qualities of emotions evoked by LKM, intervention of negative emotions like anger and jealousy, the approaches and conditions of the application of LKM.

Key words: loving-kindness meditation, emotional regulation, self-compassion, mindfulness, Buddhism