"Anyway, this little reflection on the human qualities
of friendliness, empathy, and compassion,
brings me on to the main theme of my talk tonight.
Just now we were looking at some
of the insight meditations in the Buddhist tradition,
in answer to the idea that 'Buddhism is life denying',
or 'Buddhism doesn't have anything to do with other people'.
The Buddha taught all these practices, 2500 years ago.
And he also taught a number of meditation practices
which are very specifically to do with other people.
For example, there is the recollection of the Sangha,
the spiritual community.
This meditation practice involves reflecting,
in a state of deep concentration,
upon the benefits and qualities of the spiritual community,
especially those who have developed to a stage
where there is no possibility of regression into lower modes of being.
Then, there is the recollection of the Buddha himself -
after all, for his disciples, the Buddha is another person.
Then, there is the recollection of generosity,
and the recollection of ethical behaviour.
One can hardly reflect upon any of these things
without some reference to other human beings.
But in this context perhaps the most important
of all the meditation practices which the Buddha taught
are a set of four known as the Brahmaviharas.
These are the meditation upon loving kindness,
the meditation upon compassion,
the meditation upon sympathetic gladness,
and the meditation upon equanimity."
http://kamalashila.co.uk/talks_page.htm
From: Meditation and Other People by Kamalashila
Wellington Buddhist Centre, New Zealand, 30/1/91
(Kamalashila replied to me saying he wishes people to know that he regards these
talks as being pretty rough in places. He gives his kind permission to post with
that caveat.)

Also see Chapter 2: Meditation on Friendliness
in "Meditation: The Buddhist Way of Tranquillity and Insight:
A Comprehensive Introduction to Buddhist Meditation"):
http://kamalashila.co.uk/page7/page9/page9.html

With metta / Antony.