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THE METTA SUTTA |
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THE DISCOURSE ON LOVING-KINDNESS |
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Explanation 1 |
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Karaniya mattha kusalena |
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He who is skilled in doing good, |
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Yantam santam padam abhi-samecca |
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and who wishes to attain that state of calm (ie Nibbana)
should act thus: |
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Sakko uju ca suju ca |
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He should be able, upright, perfectly upright, |
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Suvaco cassa mudu anatimani |
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obedient, gentle and humble. |
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Santussako ca subharo ca |
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Contented, easily supportable (not a burden to others), |
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Appa-kicco ca sallahuka-vutti |
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with few duties, simple in livelihood. |
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Santindriyo ca nipako ca |
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Controlled in senses, discreet, not impudent; |
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Appa-gabbho kulesu ananu giddho |
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Not greedily attached to families. |
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Naca khuddham samacare kinci |
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He should not commit any slight wrong, |
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Yena vinnu pare upava-deyyum |
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so that other wise men might deplore. |
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Sukhino va khemino hontu |
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May all beings be happy and safe, |
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Sabbe satta bhavantu sukhi-tatta |
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may their hearts be happy. |
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Ye keci pana bhu-tatthi |
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Whatsoever living beings that exist; |
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Tasava thavara va anava sesa |
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weak, or strong, without exception, |
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Digha va ye mahanta va |
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long, stout or medium, |
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Majjhima-rassa-kanuka thula |
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short, small or large. |
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Dittha va yeva adittha |
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Those seen (visible) or unseen (not visible) |
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Ye ca dure vasanti avidure |
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and those dwelling far or near, |
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Bhuta va sambhavesi va |
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those who are born and those who are to be born. |
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Sabbe satta bhavantu sukhi-tatta |
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May all beings, without exception, be happy minded. |
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Na paro param nikubbetha |
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Let no one deceive another |
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Nati-mannetha katthaci nam kanci |
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nor despise anyone anyhere. |
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Byaro-sana patigha-sanna |
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In anger or ill will, |
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Nanna-mannassa dukkha-miccheyya |
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let them not wish each other harm. |
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Mata yatha niyam puttam |
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Just as a mother would guard her only child |
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Ayusa eka-putta-manu rakkhe |
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at the risk of her own life, |
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Evampi sabba bhutesu |
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even so towards all beings |
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Manasam-bhavaye apari-manam |
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let him cultivate boundless mind. |
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Mettanca sabba lokasmin |
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Let thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole wordl; |
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Manasam-bhavaye apari-manam |
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above, below and across |
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Uddham adho ca tiriyanca |
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without any obstruction, |
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Asam-badham averam asa-pattam |
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without any hatred, without any enmity. |
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Tittham caram nisinno va |
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Whether he stands, walks, sits |
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Sayano va yava tassa vigata middho |
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or lies down, as long as he is awake, |
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Etam satim adhittheyya |
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he should develop this mindfulness. |
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Brahma metam viharam idha-mahu |
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This they say is the Highest conduct here. |
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Ditthinca anupa gamma silava |
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Not falling into (wrong) views, |
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Dassa-nena sampanno |
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virtuous and endowed with vision (insight), |
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Kamesu vineyya gedham |
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he discards attachment to sensual desires. |
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Nahi jatu gabbha seyyam punareti ti |
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Truly, he does not come again; to be conceived in a
womb. |
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Etena sacca vajjena - Sotthi me hotu sabbada |
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By the firm determination of this truth, may I ever be
well. |
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Etena sacca vajjena - Sabba rogo vinasatu |
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By the firm determination of this truth, may I be free
of illness. |
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Etena sacca vajjena - Hotu me jaya mangalam |
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By the firm determination of this truth, may peaceful
victory be mine! |
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Explanation 2 |
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This is what should be done by those who are skilled in
goodness |
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And who know the path of peace: |
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Let them be able and upright, straightforward and
gentle in speech, |
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Humble and not conceited, contented and easily
satisfied, |
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Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways. |
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Peaceful and calm, wise and skilful, not proud and
demanding in nature. |
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Let them not do the slightest thing that the wise would
later reprove. |
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Wishing in gladness and in safety, may all beings be
happy. |
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Whatever living things there may be,whether they are
weak or strong,omitting none, |
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The great or the mighty, medium, short or small, |
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The seen and the unseen,those living near and far
away,those born and to-be-born |
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May all beings be happy! |
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Let none deceive another, or despise any being in any
state. |
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Let none through anger or ill -will wish harm upon
another. |
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Even as a mother protects with her life her child, her
only child, |
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So with a boundless heart should one cherish all living
beings; |
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Radiating kindness over the entire world; |
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Spreading upwards to the skies, and downwards to the
depths; |
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Outwards and unbounded, freed from hatred and ill-will. |
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Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down, free
from drowsiness, |
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One should sustain this recollection. |
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This is said to be the sublime abiding. |
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By not holding to fixed views, the pure-hearted one,
having clarity of vision, |
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Being freed from all sense desires, is not born again
into this world. |
