The Hymn of Lovingkindness

Here is Siddhatta's "Karaniya Metta Sutta," or "Sermon [or Hymn] on Lovingkindness"

["Metta" is a Pali word meaning "lovingkindness." It is an attitude of mind that can be cultivated through an activity called "metta bhavana." "Bhavana" stems from the root "bhav" -- "to grow" or "to become" -- and can be translated as "cultivation." Metta, according to the teachings of Siddhatta Gotama, the most recent Buddha, is one of the "divine abidings," one, that is, of the four most supremely satisfying and wholesome states of mind a sentient being can achieve. To cultivate metta, one holds an attitude of friendliness and good will toward all things.

Metta directed at others or oneself can be felt across time and space.]

This is what should be done
by someone who is skilled at being good
and wants to feel genuine peace:

Be capable, honest and straightforward,
Be easy to talk to and easy to instruct --
Be gentle, and humble.

Be content and easily satisfied
have few duties, live lightly
hold peaceful thoughts, be confident
and modest. And be unswayed
by the emotions of factions
nor have a greed for admirers or folks who’ll follow you.

Take care to do nothing for which the wise
would later rebuke you.

And think like this: “May all creatures be happy and safe,
May they all have happy minds.

Whatever living things there are –
whether feeble or strong,
long or short, whether stout
or of medium size, whether quick or green,
whether big or little, whether seen or unseen

whether those living near or far away,
or those being born as well as those
only seeking to be born –
may all these beings be happy,
may they all have happy minds.

Let no being deceive another
Let none despise others
nor wish harm, in anger or with hatred,
upon another.

Just as a mother protects her only child
with her entire will and being
so let us each cultivate a boundless friendliness and love
toward all living things

Let each of us radiate limitless love
toward everything in the world:
above, below, beside, and across – unhindered
with no ill will or enmity."

Do this whether standing, walking, sitting, or lying down:
develop this attitude!: this is how to live nobly.
Let each of us not fall into useless thoughts
but be virtuous -- and be endowed with an insightful heart,
and discard the lust for satisfaction

so that we may never again come
to be born into pain.


—Siddhatta Gotama, the historical Buddha (translation/compilation by GG, based on original and translations by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, Ñanamoli Thera, the Amaravati Sangha, Piyadassi Thera, and Acharya Buddharakkhita)

[Thanks to Larry Sawyer for providing reasonable stanza breaks to this sutta. I had previously had it here on this blog without stanzas, but Larry lifted it from my blog onto his (which is fine) and in doing so racked it into I think a reasonable stanzaic structure.]