The Metta Sutta

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17 Translations of the Metta Sutta - Sutta Nipata I.8   Hint: On most browsers, you can use Ctrl+Minus (^-) to shrink the font 
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This page was created from the Metta Sutta pages by Andy Olendzki at the BCBS web site.
PALI Andy Olendzki karanīyam atthakusalena yan tam santam padam abhisamecca: sakko ujū ca sūjū ca suvaco c’ assa mudu anatimānī This is what’s done by one skilled in what’s good, Who reaches toward that most peaceful state: One would be capable, and straight—quite straight; Well-spoken, gentle, without too much pride. santussako ca subharo ca appakicco ca sallahukavutti santindriyo ca nipako ca appagabbho kulesu ananugiddho, Content with little, easily maintained, Not doing too much and lightly engaged; Thoughtful, with a peaceful demeanor, and Modest, without greed among worldly things. na ca khuddam samācare kiñci, yena viññū pare upavadeyyum. sukhino vā khemino hontu sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā: One would not do even the slightest thing That others who are wise would speak against. May they be secure and profoundly well; —May all beings be happy in themselves. ye keci pānabhūt’ atthi tasā vā thāvarā vā anavasesā dīghā vā ye mahantā vā majjhimā rassakā anukathūlā, Whatsoever living beings exist, Without exception, whether weak or strong, Whether tall and large, middle-sized, or short, Whether very subtle or very gross, ditthā vā ye vā additthā, ye ca dūre vasanti avidūre, bhūtā vā sambhavesī vā,— sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā. Whether visible or invisible, Dwelling far away or not far away, Whether born already or not yet born —May all beings be happy in themselves. na paro param nikubbetha, nātimaññetha katthacinam kañci, vyārosanā patighasaññā nāññamaññassa dukkham iccheyya. Let no one work to undo another. Let no one think badly of anyone. Either with anger or with violent thoughts, One would not wish suffering on others, mātā yathā niyam puttam āyusā ekaputtam anurakkhe, evam pi sabbabhūtesu mānasam bhāvaye aparimānam. Just as a mother would watch over her Son—her one and only son—with her life, In just the same way develop a mind Unbounded toward all living creatures. mettañ ca sabbalokasmim mānasam bhāvaye aparimānam uddham adho ca tiriyañ ca asambādham averam asapattam. Develop a mind of loving kindness Unbounded toward the entire world: Above and below and all the way ’round, With no holding back, no loathing, no foe. tittham caram nisinno vā sayāno vā yāvat’ assa vigatamiddho, etam satim adhittheyya, brahmam etam vihāram idha-m-āhu. Standing, walking, sitting or lying down, As long as one is devoid of torpor, One would resolve upon this mindfulness —This is known as sublime abiding here. ditthiñ ca anupagamma sīlavā dassanena sampanno kāmesu vineyya gedham, na hi jātu gabbhaseyyam punar etī ti Without falling into mistaken views, Endowed with insight and integrity, Guiding away greed for sensual things, One would not be born again in a womb. Amaravati Sangha Ven H. Saddhatissa This is what should be done By one who is skilled in goodness, And who seeks1 the path of peace: Let them be able and upright, Straightforward and gentle in speech. Humble and not conceited, He who is skilled in welfare, who wishes to attain that calm state [ Nibbana ], should act thus: he should be able, upright, perfectly upright, of noble speech, gentle and humble. Contented and easily satisfied. Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways. Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful, Not proud and demanding in nature. Contented, easily supported, with few duties, of light livelihood, with senses calmed, discreet, not impudent, not greedily attached to families Let them not do the slightest thing That the wise would later reprove. Wishing: In gladness and in safety, May all beings be at ease. He should not pursue the slightest thing for which otherwise men might censure him. May all beings be happy and secure, may their hearts be wholesome! Whatever living beings there may be; Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none, The great or the mighty, medium, short or small, Whatever living beings there be: feeble or strong, tall, stout or medium, short, small or large, without exception; The seen and the unseen, Those living near and far away, Those born and to-be-born, May all beings be at ease! seen or unseen, those dwelling far or near, those who are born or those who are to be born, may all beings be happy! Let none deceive another, Or despise any being in any state. Let none through anger or ill-will Wish harm upon another. Let none deceive another, not despise any person whatsoever in any place. Let him not wish any harm to another out of anger or ill-will. Even as a mother protects with her life Her child, her only child, So with a boundless heart Should one cherish all living beings: Just as a mother would protect her only child at the risk of her own life, even so, let him cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings. Radiating kindness over the entire world Spreading upwards to the skies, And downwards to the depths; Outwards and unbounded, Freed from hatred and ill-will. Let his thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world: above, below and across without any obstruction, without any hatred, without any enmity. Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down Free from drowsiness, One should sustain this mindfulness2. This is said to be the sublime abiding. Whether he stands, walks, sits or lies down, as long as he is awake, he should develop this mindfulness. This they say is the noblest living here. By not holding to fixed views, The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision, Being freed from all sense desires, Is not born again into this world. Not falling into wrong views, being virtuous and endowed with insight, by discarding attachment to sense desires, never again is he reborn. K. R. Norman A. L. Basham This is what is to be done by one who is skilful in respect of the good, having attained the peaceful state. He should be capable, straight, and very upright, easy to speak to, gentle and not proud, This a man should do who knows what is good for him, Who understands the meaning of the Place of Peace [i.e. Nibbana] — He should be able, upright, truly straight, Kindly of speech, mild, and without conceit. Contented and easy to support, having few duties and of a frugal way of life, with his sense-faculties calmed, zealous, not impudent, (and) not greedy (when begging) among families He should be well content, soon satisfied, Having few wants and simple tastes, With composed senses, discreet, Not arrogant or grasping. And he should not do any mean thing, on account of which other wise men would criticize him. Let all creatures indeed be happy (and) secure; let them be happy-minded In his deeds there should be no meanness For which the wise might blame him. May all be happy and safe! May all beings gain inner joy— Whatever living creatures there are, moving or still, without exception, whichever are long or large, or middle-sized or short, small or great, All living beings whatever Without exception, weak or strong, Whether long or high Middling or small, subtle or gross, whichever are seen or unseen, whichever live far or near, whether they already exist or are going to be, let all creatures be happy-minded. Seen or unseen, Dwelling afar or near, Born or yet unborn— May all beings gain inner joy. One man should not humiliate another; one should not despise anyone anywhere. One should not wish another misery because of anger or from the notion of repugnance. May no being deceive another, Nor in any way scorn another, Nor, in anger or ill-will, Desire another’s sorrow. Just as a mother would protect with her life her own son, her only son, so one should cultivate an unbounded mind towards all beings, As a mother cares for her son, Her only son, all her days, So towards all things living A man’s mind should be all-embracing. and loving-kindness towards all the world. One should cultivate an unbounded mind, above and below and across, without obstruction, without enmity, without rivalry. Friendliness for the whole world, All-embracing, he should raise in his mind, Above, below, and across, Unhindered, free from hate and ill-will. Standing, or going, or seated, or lying down, as long as one is free from drowsiness, one should practice this mindfulness. This, they say, is the holy state here. Standing, walking or sitting, Or lying down, till he falls asleep, He should remain firm in this mindfulness, For this is the sublime mood. Not subscribing to wrong views, virtuous, endowed with insight, having overcome greed for sensual pleasures, a creature assuredly does not come to lie again in a womb. Avoiding all false views, Virtuous, filled with insight, Let him conquer the lust of the passions, And he shall never again be born of the womb. Ven W. Rahula F. L. Woodward He who is skilled in good and who wishes to attain that state of Calm should act (thus): He should be able, upright, perfectly upright, compliant, gentle, and humble. This must be done by him who is wise to know what is good for him, by him who hath grasped the meaning of the Place of Peace. He must be able and upright and truly straight: gentle of speech and mild, not having vain conceit of self. Contented, easily supported, with few duties, of simple livelihood, controlled in senses, discreet, not impudent, he should not be greedily attached to families And he should be content, soon satisfied, with but few wants, of frugal appetites: with faculties of sense composed, discreet, not insolent, nor greedy after gifts He should not commit any slight wrong such that other wise men might censure him. (Then he should cultivate his thoughts thus:) May all beings be happy and secure; may their minds be contented. He should do no mean thing for which other men who are wise may censure him. Whatever living beings there may be— feeble or strong, long (or tall), stout, or medium, short, small, or large, Now may every living thing, feeble or strong, omitting none, or tall or middle-sized or short, subtle or gross of form, seen or unseen, those dwelling far or near, those who are born and those who are yet to be born— may all beings, without exception, be happy-minded! seen or unseen, those dwelling near or far away, -whether they be born or yet unborn— may every living thing be full of bliss. Let not one deceive another nor despise any person whatever in any place. In anger or ill will let not one wish any harm to another. Let none deceive another, nor think scorn of him in any way whate’er. Let him not in anger or ill-will desire another’s ill-fare. Just as a mother would protect her only child even at the risk of her own life, even so let one cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings. Even as a mother, as long as she doth live, watches over her child, her only child, —even so should one practise an all- embracing mind unto all beings. Let one’s thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world —above, below and across— without any obstruction, without any hatred, without any enmity. And let a man practise a boundless goodwill for all the world, above, below, across, in every way, goodwill unhampered, without ill-feeling or enmity. Whether one stands, walks, sits or lies down, as long as one is awake, one should maintain this mindfulness. This, they say, is the Sublime State in this life. Standing or moving, sitting or lying down, howe’er he be, provided he be freed from sloth, let a man establish this mindfulness of goodwill. For this is what men call “the highest state.” Not falling into wrong views, virtuous and endowed with Insight, one gives up attachment to sense-desires. Verily such a man does not return to enter a womb again Thus shall a man, by passing over wrongful view, by walking righteously, be gifted with insight and conquer greed for sense-desires. Of a truth such an one shall come no more to birth in any womb. Bhikkhu Ñanamoli (1) Bhikkhu Ñanamoli (2) What should be done by one with skill in good, The State of Peace to have attained is this. He would be able, right, upright, And meek and gentle and not proud, This should be done by one with skill in good In order to attain the State of Peace. Let him be able, upright, straight, And meek and gentle and not proud. Contented, easy to support, Unbusy, frugal, and serene In faculties, prudent, modest, Not fawning upon families. Contented, easy to support, Unbusy, frugal, and serene In faculties, prudent and modest, Ungrasping among families; He would no slight thing do at all That other wise men might deplore, (Then let him think) “Joyful and safe Let every creature’s heart rejoice.“ And let him do no slightest thing That other wise men might deplore. (Then let him think) "In joy and safety Let every creature’s heart rejoice." Whatever breathing beings there are, No matter whether frail or firm, With none excepted, long or big Or middle-sized or short or small Or thick, Whatever breathing beings there are, No matter whether faint or bold, With none excepted, long or big Or middle-sized or short or thin Or thick,   or those seen or unseen, Or whether dwelling far or near, That are or that yet seek to be, Let every creature’s heart rejoice   or those seen or unseen, Or whether dwelling far or near, That are or that yet seek to be, Let every creature’s heart rejoice. Let none another one undo Or slight him at all anywhere; Let them not wish each other ill With provocation or resistive thought. Let none betray another’s trust Or offer any slight at all, Or ever let them wish in wrath Or in revenge each other’s ill. Thus as a mother with her life Might guard her son, her only child, Would he maintain unboundedly His thought for every living being. Thus as a mother with her life Will guard her son, her only child, Let him extend unboundedly His heart to every living being. His thought of love for all the world He would maintain unboundedly, Above, below, and all around, Unchecked, no malice with or foe, And so with love for all the world Let him extend unboundedly His heart, above, below, around, Unchecked, with no ill will or hate. Standing or walking, seated too, Or lying down the while undrowsing, He would pursue this mindfulness: This is Divine Abiding here, they say, Whether he stands, or sits, or walks, Or lies down (while yet not asleep), Let him such mindfulness pursue: This is Holy Abiding here, they say. But he that traffics not with views Is virtuous with perfected seeing Till, purged of greed for sense-desires, He will surely come no more to any womb. But he that traffics not with views, Is virtuous, with perfected vision, And longs no more for sense desires: He is not born again in any womb Dhammayut Bhante Gunaratana This is to be done by one skilled in aims Who wants to break through to the state of peace: Be capable, upright, & straightforward, Easy to instruct, gentle, & not conceited, One skilled in good, wishing to attain that state of peace should act thus: one should be able, straight, upright, obedient, gentle, and humble. Content & easy to support, with few duties, living lightly, With peaceful faculties, masterful, modest, & no greed for supporters. One should be content, easy to support, with few duties, living lightly, controlled in senses, discreet, not impudent, unattached to families Do not do the slightest thing that the wise would later censure. Think: Happy & secure, may all beings be happy at heart. One should not do any slight wrong for which the wise might censure one. May all beings be happy and secure! May all beings have happy minds! Whatever beings there may be, weak or strong, without exception, Long, large, middling, short, subtle, blatant, Whatever living beings there may be without exception, weak or strong, long, large, middling, short, subtle, or gross, Seen & unseen, near & far, Born & seeking birth: May all being be happy at heart. visible or invisible, living near or far, born or coming to birth may all beings have happy minds! Let no one deceive another or despise anyone anywhere, Or through anger or irritation wish for another to suffer. Let no one deceive another nor despise anyone anywhere. Neither in anger nor enmity should anyone wish harm to another. As a mother would risk her life to protect her child, her only child, Even so should one cultivate a limitless heart with regard to all beings. As a mother would risk her own life to protect her only child, even so towards all living beings one should cultivate a boundless heart. With good will for the entire cosmos, cultivate a limitless heart: Above, below, & all around, unobstructed, without enmity or hate One should cultivate for all the world a heart of boundless loving-kindness, above, below, and all around, unobstructed, without hate or enmity. Whether standing, walking, sitting, or lying down, as long as one is alert, One should be resolved on this mindfulness. This is called a sublime abiding here & now. Whether standing, walking, or sitting, lying down or whenever awake, one should develop this mindfulness; this is called divinely dwelling here. Not taken with views, but virtuous & consummate in vision, Having subdued desire for sensual pleasures, One never again will lie in the womb. Not falling into erroneous views, but virtuous and endowed with vision, removing desire for sensual pleasures, one comes never again to birth in the womb. Ven. Khantipalo Aronson What should be done by one who’s skilled in wholesomeness to gain the State of Peacefulness is this: One must be able, upright, straight and not proud, easy to speak to, mild What should the person skilled in profitable practices do When he becomes aware of the peaceful state? He should be capable, honest, straightforward, Receptive, flexible, humble, and well-content, easily satisfied and not caught up in too much bustle, and frugal in one’s ways, with senses calmed, intelligent, not bold, unswayed by the emotions of the crowd, Content, easily supported, With few activities, with few possessions, With steady senses, wise, Considered in his action, and not mimicking householders abstaining from the ways that wise men blame; (and this the thought that one should always hold;) May beings all live happily and safe and may their hearts rejoice within themselves. He should not practice any low [conduct] at all That would arouse the criticism of the wise. [He should cultivate these wishes:] “May all beings be at ease, secure; May they all be happy in heart." Whatever there may be with breath of life, whether they be frail or very strong, without exception, be they long or short, or middle-sized, or be they big or small, or thick Whoever is a breathing being, Stable or unstable without exception, Long, or those who are large, Medium, short, subtle, gross.   or visible or invisible or whether they dwell far or they dwell near, those that are here, those seeking to exist; may beings all rejoice within themselves. Visible or invisible, Distant or near, Beings or those yet to be born, "May they all be happy in heart.” Let no one bring about another’s ruin, or him despise in any way or place; let them not wish each other any ill from provocation or from enmity. One should not cheat another. One should not be proud with respect to anyone anywhere. One should not wish others harm Through anger or aversion. Just as a mother at the risk of life loves and protects her son, her only son, so let him cultivate this boundless love to all that live in the whole universe; One should cultivate an unlimited mind Towards all beings The way a mother protects her only son With her life. extending from a consciousness sublime upwards and downwards and across the world, untroubled, free of hate and enmity. He should cultivate an unlimited loving mind,   without obstruction, anger, or opposition To the whole world Above, below, and across. And while he stands and while he walks and sits or he lies down still free from drowsiness, let him be intent on this mindfulness: this is Divine Abiding here they say, Standing, walking, sitting, or reclining, He should be resolute in this mindfulness, As long as he is free from fatigue. Here this is called the sublime attitude. But when he lives quite free from any view, is virtuous, with perfect insight won, and greed for sensual desires expelled - he surely comes no more to any womb. Without wrong view, With correct conduct and vision, Having removed attachment for desire’s objects, He is certain to come to no new womb.