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| Love? How does one express "friendliness" (metta, maitri)? By acts of kindness. |
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| Rahula, the Buddha, and Ananda (Thai art) |
The following is an edited, interpretive translation of the famous Discourse on Loving Kindness" by the Western Theravada monk Ven. Dhammarakkhita from his book Metta Bhavana: Loving-Kindness Meditation.
Owing to the glorious power of this Metta Sutra, spirits dare not appear in frightful forms. Anyone who [practices and] chants this discourse, day and night, sleeps peacefully, has no bad dreams, and enjoys many benefits. Come on, let’s recite this Metta Sutra!
One who is skillful in good practices and
wishes to attain to that state of peace [nirvana]
should follow this: One should be able and
upright, perfectly straight, dutiful,
gentle in speech, and humble,
contented, easy to look after,
with few [distracting] duties,
simple in livelihood, controlled in senses,
discreet, modest, and not greedily
attached to people.
One should do nothing that the wise
may blame one for. Just think:
May all beings be happy and secure!
May their hearts be wholesome.
Whatever beings there are,
weak or strong, without exception,
long, stout, or medium, short or tall,
large or small, seen or unseen,
near or far, born or unborn,
may all beings be happy!
Let no one deceive another,
nor despise anyone at all.
With anger or ill will, let one
not wish harm to any other,
just as a mother would protect
her only child,
even at the risk of her own life,
let us develop boundless
loving-kindness towards all beings.
Let’s send unlimited loving-kindness
towards the whole world,
above, below, and all around,
freely and without hatred or enmity.
Whether sitting standing,
walking or lying down,
as long as we are awake,
we should develop this mindfulness,
for this, they say, is the highest conduct.
Not following wrong views
but purely and wisely being unattached to
many pleasures, one gains freedom
from endless rebirth. More
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