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Sutta Nipata

Sutta NipātaSnp 1.8 Metta Sutta
Discourse on Loving-Kindness

How to practice loving-kindness meditation.

1. Karaṇīyamatthakusalena – Yaṁ taṁ santaṁ padaṁ abhisamecca
Sakko ujū ca sūjū ca – Suvaco cassa mudu anatimānī

1. One skilled in good wishing to attain that state of peace Nibbāna should act thus: he should be clever upright, exceedingly upright, obedient, gentle and humble.

2. Santussako ca subharo ca – Appakicco ca sallahukavutti
Santindriyo ca nipako ca – Appagabbho kulesu ananugiddho

2. He should be content, easy to support, with few duties, living lightly, controlled in senses, discerning, courteous and unattached to families.

3. Na ca khuddhaṁ samācare kiñci – Yena viññū pare upavadeyyuṁ
Sukhino vā khemino hontu – Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā

3. One should not do any slight wrong which the wise might censure. May all beings be happy and secure! May all beings have happy minds!

4. Ye keci pāṇabhūtatthī – Tasā vā thāvarā vā anavasesā
Dīghā vā ye mahantā vā – Majjhimā rassakāṇukathūlā

4. Whatever living beings there may be without exception: timid or fearless; long or large, medium, short, subtle or gross,

5. Diṭṭhā vā yeva addiṭṭhā – Ye ca dūre vasanti avidūre
Bhūtā vā sambhavesī vā – Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā

5. Visible or invisible, living near or far, born or coming to birth, may all beings have happy minds!

6. Na paro paraṁ nikubbetha – Nātimaññetha katthaci naṁ kanci
Byārosanā paṭighasaññā – Nāññamaññassa dukkhamiccheyya

6. Let no one deceive another, nor despise anyone anywhere. Neither from anger nor ill will should anyone wish harm to another.

7. Mātā yathā niyaṁ puttaṁ – Āyusā ekaputtamanurakkhe
Evam’pi sabbabhūtesu – Mānasaṁ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ

7. As a mother would risk her own life to protect her only child, even so towards all living beings, one should cultivate boundless loving-kindness.

8. Mettaṁ ca sabba lokasmiṁ – Mānasaṁ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ
Uddhaṁ adho ca tiriyañca – Asaṁbādhaṁ averaṁ asapattaṁ

8. One should cultivate for all the world a heart of boundless loving-kindness, above, below, and all around, unobstructed, without hatred or resentment.

9. Tiṭṭhaṁ caraṁ nisinno vā – Sayāno vā yāvata’ssa vigatamiddho
Etaṁ satiṁ adhiṭṭheyya – Brahmametaṁ vihāraṁ idhamāhu

9. Whether standing, walking or sitting, lying down or whenever awake, one should develop this mindfulness. This is called “divinely dwelling here.”

10. Diṭṭhiṁ ca anupagamma sīlavā – Dassanena sampanno
Kāmesu vineyya gedhaṁ – Na hi jātu gabbhaseyyaṁ punaretī’ti.

10. Not falling into wrong views, but virtuous and possessing right view, removing desire for sensual pleasures, one comes never again to birth in the womb.

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Sutta Nipāta 1.8 Metta Sutta: Discourse on Loving-Kindness

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This sutta is also found at Khp 9.

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