Metta Sutta

Discourse on Loving-Kindness

Yassanubhavato yakkha,

neva dassenti bhisanam,

yamhi ceva-nuyunjanto.

Rattindiva matandito.

Sukham supati sutto ca.

Papam kinci na passati.

Evamadi gunupetam

Parittam tam bhanama he

Owing to the glorious power of the Metta Sutta

spirits dare not appear

in their frightful forms.

One who chants this Sutta 

day and night diligently,

sleeps peacefully, will not have bad dreams,

And will acquire many benefits.

Come! Let us recite this Sutta.

Karaniya-mattha kusalena,

Yantasantam padam abhi-samecca,

Sakko uju ca suhuja ca,

Suvaco cassa mudu antimani.

He, who is skilful in all practises,

And wish to attain the State of Bliss

should act thus:

He should be efficient, right,

perfectly upright, obedient, gentle, and humble.

Santussako ca subharo ca,

Appa-kicco ca sallahuka-vutti,

Santindriyo ca nipako ca,

Appa-gabbho kulesvananugiddho.

Contented, easily supportable,

with few duties, of frugal living,

Controlled in senses, discreet, modest,

Not greedily attached to families.

Naca khuddha macare kinci,

Yena vinnu pare upavadeyyum,

Sukhino va khemino hontu,

Sabba satta bhavantu sukhi-tatta.

He should not commit even the slightest wrong

for which the wise might censure.

Contemplate: May all beings be happy and secure,

May their hearts be wholesome.

Ye keci pana bhu-tatthi,

Tasava thavara va nava sesa,

Digha va yeva mahanta,

Majjhima rassakanuka thula.

Whatever living beings there are,

weak or strong, without exception

tall or stout, shorter medium-sized

short, small or large, thin or fat,

Dittha va yeva adittha,

Yeva dure vasanti avidure

Bhuta va sambhavesi va,

Sabba-satta bhavantu sukhi-tatta

Those seen and unseen, far or near,

those who are born

and those to be born

May all beings be endowed with happiness.

Na paro param nikubbetha,

Nati-mannetha katthaci na kanci

Byarosana patigha-sanna,

Nanna-mannassa dukkha-miccheya.

Let none deceive another

nor despise any person whatsoever in any place.

In anger or ill-will,

Let him not wish for the suffering of others.

Mata yatha niyam putta,

Mayusa eka putta manu rakkhe,

Evampi sabba bhutesu,

Manasam bhavaye aparimanam.

Just as a mother would protect her only child,

at the risk of her own life,

even so let him cultivate

the boundless spirit of love towards all beings.

Mettanca sabba lokasmi,

Manassam-bhavaye apari-manam,

Uddham adho ca tiriyanca

Asambadham averamasapattam

Let him radiate the boundless love,

towards the entire world,

above, below, and all around unhindered

without hatred and without enmity.

Tittham caram nisinno va,

Sayano yava tassa vita middho,

Etam satim adhi ttheyya,

Brahma metam viharamidha mahu.

Whether he stands, walks, sits or lies down,

as long as he is awake,

he should develop this mindfulness,

This, they say is the Highest Conduct here.

Ditthinca anupaggamma

Silava, dassanena sampanno,

Kamesu vineyya gedham.

Nahi jatuggabbha seyya punaretiti.

Not falling into the error of wrong view

Virtuous and endowed with insight,

he discards attachment to sensual desires.

He does not come again for conception in a womb.