Metta sutta

weighted

Some of you know that I've been practicing metta meditation. I thought it would be useful to post the Buddha's sutta on metta here, to remind us all how important lovingkindness is.

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,
content & easy to support,
with few duties, living lightly,
with peaceful faculties, masterful,
modest, & no greed for supporters.

Do not do the slightest thing
that the wise would later censure.

Think: Happy, at rest,
may all beings be happy at heart.
Whatever beings there may be,
weak or strong, without exception,
long, large,
middling, short,
subtle, blatant,
seen & unseen,
near & far,
born & seeking birth:
May all beings be happy at heart.

Let no one deceive another
or despise anyone anywhere,
or through anger or irritation
wish for another to suffer.

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.
With good will for the entire cosmos,
cultivate a limitless heart:
Above, below, & all around,
unobstructed, without enmity or hate.
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.

Not taken with views,
but virtuous & consummate in vision,
having subdued desire for sensual pleasures,
one never again
will lie in the womb.

From here: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.08.than.html

Lady_Alison

That's beautifully explained, specially to a beginner's mind, like mine.

Thank you, sugar.

BonsaiDoug

"The Buddha himself said that if you repeatedly practice this prayerful meditation -- with a forgiving, loving heart while relinquishing judgment, anger and prejudice -- great benefits will ensue: you will sleep easily, wake easily and have pleasant dreams, people will love you, celestial beings will love you and protect you; poisons, weapons, fire, and other external dangers will not harm you; your face will be radiant and your mind concentrated and serene; and you will die unconfused and be reborn in happy realms."

~ Lama Surya Das, "Awakening the Buddha Within"

Dakini

"Whatever beings there may be, ... born, and seeking birth". I guess this settles the "did he teach rebirth" question.

Nice suttra. Sweet.

possibilities

"Whatever beings there may be, ... born, and seeking birth". I guess this settles the "did he teach rebirth" question.

Nice suttra. Sweet.

"....and seeking birth". I understand that to be the unborn fetus.

Dakini

Ah! So it doesn't settle the question! OK, back to Square One. :aol:

weighted

I read Sharon Salzberg's book Lovingkindness, and she recounts a tale that the Buddha send his followers into a forest known to be haunted by tree spirits/demons. He told them the instructions of the metta meditation, and then sent them there. They returned scared, and asked to meditate in a different place. The Buddha said no, you must meditate there on metta. And the tree spirits/demons (depending on the translation) actually were quelled by the lovingkindness that was awakened when the followers practiced this in their presence.

shanyin

I have it memorized.

shanyin

Acutally this is the translation I have partly memorized

(From my head:)

For one who is skilled in goodness, and who knows the path of peace

Let them be able and upright, straightforward and gentle in speech
humble and not conceited, 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
let them not do the slightest thing the wise would later reprove

wishing in gladness and in safety, may all beings be at ease
whatever beings there may be
large or small, medium short or tall
just as a mother loves her child, her only child
with a boundless heart one should radiate loving kindess towards all beings

shanyin

I think the start of your is correct and i forget still different translation though