Mettasuttaṁ: The Discourse on Friendliness Meditation
Mettasuttaṁ
The Discourse on Friendliness Meditation
1. Karaṇīyam-atthakusalena, yan-taṁ santaṁ padaṁ abhisamecca:
What should be done by one skilful in good, who has comprehended the state of peace:
sakko ujū ca sūjū ca, suvaco c' assa mudu anatimānī,
he ought to be able, straight, and upright, easy to speak to, meek, without conceit,
2. santussako ca subharo ca, appakicco ca sallahukavutti,
satisfied (with little), easy to support, free from duties, and light in living,
santindriyo ca nipako ca, appagabbho kulesu ananugiddho,
with faculties at peace, prudent, not forward, and greedless among the families,
3. na ca khuddaṁ samācare kiñci yena viññū pare upavadeyyuṁ.
he should not do the slightest thing whereby others who are wise might find fault (with him).
“Sukhino vā khemino hontu, sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā!
“(May all beings) be happy and secure, may all beings in their hearts be happy!
4. Ye keci pāṇabhūt' atthi - tasā vā thāvarā vā anavasesā,
Whatsoever breathing beings there are - trembling, firm, or any other (beings),
dīghā vā ye mahantā vā, majjhimā rassakā aṇukathūlā,
whether they be long or great, of middle size, short, tiny, or of compact (body),
5. diṭṭhā vā ye va addiṭṭhā, ye ca dūre vasanti avidūre,
those who are seen, and those who are unseen, those who live far away, those who are near,
bhūtā vā sambhavesī vā - sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā!”
those who are born, and those who still seek birth - may all beings in their hearts be happy!”
6. Na paro paraṁ nikubbetha, nātimaññetha katthaci naṁ kañci,
No one should cheat another, nor should he despise anyone wherever they be,
byārosanā paṭighasaññā nāññam-aññassa dukkham-iccheyya.
he should not long for suffering for another because of anger or resentment.
7. Mātā yathā niyaṁ puttaṁ āyusā ekaputtam-anurakkhe,
In the same way as a mother would protect her son, her only son, with her life,
evam-pi sabbabhūtesu mānasaṁ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ,
so toward all beings he should develop the measureless thought (of friendliness).
8. Mettañ-ca sabbalokasmiṁ mānasaṁ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ,
Towards the whole wide world he should develop the measureless thought of friendliness,
uddhaṁ adho ca tiriyañ-ca, asambādhaṁ averaṁ asapattaṁ.
above, below, and across (the middle), without barriers, hate, or enemy.
9. Tiṭṭhaṁ caraṁ nisinno vā, sayāno vā yāvat' assa vigatamiddho,
Standing, walking, sitting, lying, for as long as he is without torpor,
etaṁ satiṁ adiṭṭheyya, brahmam-etaṁ vihāraṁ idha-m-āhu.
he should be resolved on this mindfulness, for this, they say here, is the (true) spiritual life.
10. Diṭṭhiñ-ca anupagamma, sīlavā dassanena sampanno,
Without going back to (wrong) views, virtuous, and endowed with (true) insight,
kāmesu vineyya gedhaṁ, na hi jātu gabbhaseyyaṁ puna-r-etī ti.
having removed (all) greed for sense pleasures, he will never come to lie in a womb again.
Mettasuttaṁ Niṭṭhitaṁ
The Discourse on Friendliness Meditation is Finished
