Sutta Nipāta
1
Sutta 8. Karaniya Metta Sutta
Sutta 1.8
Good Will
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.
This is to be done by one skilled in aims
who wants to break through to the state of peace:
Be capable, upright, and straightforward,
easy to instruct, gentle, and not conceited,
content and easy to support,
with few duties, living lightly,
with peaceful faculties, masterful,
modest, and no greed for supporters.
Do not do the slightest thing
that the wise would later censure.
Think: Happy, at rest,
may all beings be happy at heart.
Whatever beings there may be,
weak or strong, without exception,
long, large,
middling, short,
subtle, blatant,
seen and unseen,
near and far,
born and seeking birth:
May all beings be happy at heart.
Let no one deceive another
or despise anyone anywhere,
or through anger or irritation
wish for another to suffer.
As a mother would risk her life
to protect her child, her only child,
even so should one cultivate the heart limitlessly
with regard to all beings.[1]
With good will for the entire cosmos,
cultivate a limitless heart:
Above, below, and all around,
unobstructed, without enmity or hate.
Whether standing, walking,
sitting, or lying down,
as long as one is alert,
one should be determined on this mindfulness.[2]
This is called a sublime abiding
here and now.
Not taken with views,
but virtuous and consummate in vision,
having subdued desire for sensual pleasures,
one never again
will lie in the womb.
[1] The image here is sometimes misconstrued as saying that one should protect all beings as a mother would protect her only child. Actually, the parallel is not between the child and all living beings; it is between the child and one’s cultivation of the heart: One should protect one’s goodwill toward all beings in the same way that a mother would protect her only child. On this point, see MN 21.
[2] This line has to be read in line with the Buddha’s definition of mindfulness as the ability to keep something in mind. See SN 48:10.
Of Related Interest:
MN 52;
MN 97;
MN 135;
SN 42:8;
SN 46:54;
SN 55:7;
AN 3:66;
AN 4:67;
AN 4:96;
AN 4:125–126;
AN 4:178;
AN 4:200;
AN 5:20;
AN 5:27;
AN 6:12–13;
AN 8:70;
AN 10:176;
AN 10:196;
AN 11:16;
Ud 5:1;
Iti 22;
Iti 27
