Karaṇīya Mettā Sutta

The Sutta of Loving Kindness

karaṇīyam-attha-kusalena,
yaṃ taṃ santaṃ padaṃ abhisamecca;
sakko ujū ca sūjū ca,
suvaco cassa mudu anatimānī. [1]

One who is skilled in what is beneficial should do thus:
Having experienced the state of peace,
he should be able, upright, and thoroughly upright,
easy to speak to, gentle, and not conceited.

santussako ca subharo ca,
appakicco ca sallahuka-vutti;
santindriyo ca nipako ca,
appagabbho kulesu ananugiddho. [2]

contented and easy to support,
with few tasks, and living lightly,
tranquil in his senses, sagacious,
unassuming, and not attached to families,

na ca khuddaṃ samācare kiñci,
yena viññū pare upavadeyyuṃ;
sukhino vā khemino hontu,
sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā. [3]

He should not do even the slightest wrong
for which the wise might find fault.
May they be happy and secure,
May all beings be happy at heart!

ye keci pāṇa-bhūtatthi,
tasā vā thāvarā vā anavasesā;
dīghā vā ye mahantā vā,
majjhimā rassakā aṇuka-thūlā. [4]

Whatever beings there are,
moving or stationary, without exception,
long, large, middling,
short, subtle or coarse,

diṭṭhā vā yeva adiṭṭhā,
ye ca dūre vasanti avidūre;
bhūtā vā sambhavesī vā,
sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā. [5]

Seen or unseen,
living far or near,
born or seeking birth,
may all beings be happy at heart!

na paro paraṃ nikubbetha,
nātimaññetha katthaci na kañci;
byārosanā paṭigha-sañña,
nāññam-aññassa dukkham-iccheyya. [6]

May no one deceive another,
or despise anyone anywhere!
Through anger or ill-will,
may none wish for another to suffer!

mātā yathā niyaṃ puttaṃ
āyusā eka-puttam-anurakkhe;
evampi sabba-bhūtesu,
mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ. [7]

Just as a mother would protect her own child,
her only child, even at the risk of her life,
in the same way, towards all beings,
one should cultivate a boundless heart.

mettaṃ ca sabba-lokasmiṃ,
mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ;
uddhaṃ adho ca tiriyañ-ca,
asambādhaṃ averaṃ asapattaṃ. [8]

He should cultivate a boundless heart
of loving kindness to all beings of the world,
extending upwards, downward, across,
unobstructed, without hatred or rivalry.

tiṭṭhaṁ caraṁ nisinno vā,
sayāno yāvatāssa vigata-middho;
etaṁ satiṃ adhiṭṭheyya,
brahmam-etaṁ vihāram-idham-āhu. [9]

Whether standing, moving, sitting, or lying down,
as long as one is free from drowsiness,
one should establish this mindfulness
for this, here, is said to be the Brahmā-abiding.

diṭṭhiñ-ca anupaggamma,
sīlavā dassanena sampanno;
kāmesu vinaya gedhaṃ,
na hi jātuggabbhaseyya punaretīti. [10]

Without clinging to any view, 

virtuous, and endowed with insight,
having tamed greed for sensual pleasures,
he will never lie in a womb again.

(Colophon: This translation was prepared by Yogi Prabodha Jnana and Yogini Abhaya Devi)