Mettā Sutta
Mettā Sutta
(The Discourse on Loving-Kindness)
Uyyojañña | Invocation | |
| i. | Yassā-nubhāvato yakkhā, neva dassenti bhi¸msana¸m, yamhi cevā-nuyuñjanto, rattidivamatandito. | i-ii Due to the glorious power of the Discourse on Loving-kindness, deities dare not disclose any frightful sight. One who recites this Paritta diligently day and night, sleeps soundly and does not have nightmares when asleep. Let us recite this Paritta which is endowed with these and other such merit. |
| ii. | Sukha¸m supati sutto ca, pāpam kiñci na passati, evamādi gu¸nūpetam, paritta¸m ta¸m bha¸nāma he. | |
Sutta | The Discourse | |
| 1. | Kara¸niyam' attha-kusalena, yenta santa¸m pada¸m abhisamecca; sakkho ujū ca suhujuja ca, suvaco cassa mudu anatimāni. | He who is skilled in welfare, who anticipates the attainment of the state of perfect peace (Nibbāna), should act thus: he should be able, upright, perfectly upright, obedient, gentle and humble. |
| 2. | Santussako ca subbharo ca appakicco ca sallahukavutii; santindriyo ca nipako ca, appagabbho kulesvananugiddha. | Contented, easily supportable with few duties, responsibilities, of right livelihood, with senses calmed, discreet, not impudent, not greedily attached to families. |
| 3. | Na ca khuddamācare kiñci, yena viññū pare upavadeyum; sukhino va khemino hontu, sabbasattā bhavantu sukhitattā. | He should not commit even the slightest thing for which other wise men might blame him. He must contemplate thus: May all beings be happy and safe, may their hearts be wholesome. |
| 4. | Ye keci pāna-bhūtatthi, tasā vā thāvarā v'anavasesā; dighā vā yeva mahantā, majjhimā rassakā a¸nuka thūlā. | Whatever living beings there may be; feeble or strong, tall, stout or medium, short, small or large, seen or unseen, those dwelling far or near, those who are born or those who are to be born, may all beings, without exception, be happy. |
| 5. | Diţţhā vā ye va adiţţhā, ye va dūre vasanti avidūre; bhūta va sabhavesī va, sabba-sattā bhavantu sukhitattā. | |
| 6. | Na paro para¸m nikubbetha, nātimaññeta katthaci na kiñci byārosanā paţighasañña; nā-ñña ma-ññassa dukkhamiccheya. | Let none deceive another, nor despise any person in any place. Let him not wish any harm to another out of anger or ill-will. |
| 7. | Mātā yathā niya¸m putta¸m, āyusā ekaputt' amanurakkhe; evampi sabbabhūtesu, mānasa¸m bhāvaye aparimā¸na¸m. | Just as a mother would protect her only child at the risk of her own life, even so, let him cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings. |
| 8. | Mettañ ca sabbalokasmi¸m, mānasa¸m bhāvaye aparimā¸nam; uddha¸m adho ca tiriyañ ca, asambādha¸m averamasapatta¸m. | Let his thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world; above, below and across without any obstruction, without any hatred, without any enmity. |
| 9. | Tiţţha¸m cara¸m nisinno-va, sayāno yāvatāssa vitamiddho; eta¸m sati¸m adhiţţheyya, brahmameta¸m vihāra-midhamāhu | Whether standing, walking, sitting or lying down, as long as he is awake, he should develop this mindfulness. This is said in this Dispensation as the Noblest Living. |
| 10. | Diţţhiñ ca anupaggama; silavā dassanena sampanno; kāmesu vinaya gedha¸m, na hi jātuggabbhaseyya punareti. | Not falling into wrong views, being virtuous and endowed with insight, by discarding attachment to sense desires, never again is he re-born (into this world). |
| Mettā-sutta¸m niţţhita¸m | Here ends the Discourse on Loving-kindness. |
Commentary
Once, during his ministry when the Buddha was spending the Rains Retreat at Sāvatthi he gave a group of monks leave to spend the retreat in meditation in the forest. As no other shelter was available they dwelt at the foot of the forest's many trees. However, the tree deities living there could no longer do so while the Bhikkhus were engaged in meditation. Angry at being made homeless they tried to frighten the 'intruders away. Although the Bhikkhus tried to carry on with their meditation they could not endure the spirits' trouble-making and returned to the Buddha and asked for his help. The Buddha instructed them to return to the forest and send forth thoughts of pure Loving-kindness (Mettā) to all living beings. The monks returned to the forestland did as the Buddha has told them, whence the tree deities were pacified and the Bhikkhus were able to continue with their meditation.
The recitation of this discourse can bring purity and peace of mind to those working for the realization of Nibbāna.
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