Loving Kindness and Enlightenment

Loving kindness and compassion

All over Asia within the Theravada Buddhist temples Loving kindness, compassion, and equanimity are practiced as foundations towards enlightenment. These foundations aren’t just practiced for the benefit of others, Loving Kindness, Compassion and Equanimity are practiced within the minds of every Monks inner speech.

Every Monk trains his inner speech to be more compassionate and loving towards themselves, forgiving their faults and imperfections. Gradually over time as we practise we become more content and compassionate towards ourselves and towards others.

Loving kindness and enlightenment

The monks and Nuns of the Theravada Buddhist tradition chant daily the Sutta on Metta or Loving Kindness as a way towards enlightenment of their own minds. The loving Kindness Sutta is presented here for your practice and enjoyment. Maybe you can use this the next time you meditate.

First we have the English version translated from Pali, and following that is the original Pali script version, with pronunciation of the letters at the bottom. We really hope you have a go at the original Pali version. It might at first appear complicated and confusing, watch your inner dialogue as you try the Pali script and remember loving kindness towards yourself.

Loving kindness Sutta

This is what should be done, By 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, wise and skilful, not proud and demanding in nature.

Let them not do the slightest thing, that the wise would reprove. Wishing, in gladness and in safety, may all beings be at ease.

Whatever living beings there may be, wether they are week or strong, omitting none, the great or the mighty, medium, short or small,

The seen and the unseen, those living near and far away, those born and to be born, May all beings be at ease.

Let none deceive another, or despise any being in any state. Let none through anger or ill-will, wish harm upon another.

Even as a mother protects with her life, her child, her only child, so with a boundless heart, should one cherish all living 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.

Wether standing or walking, seated or lying down, free from drowsiness, one should sustain this recollection, this is said to be the sublime abiding.

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.

Loving kindness sutra in Pali

For those of you who would like to learn Pali or maybe attempt this accent language that has been used for over 2,500 years this is the loving kindness Sutta in Pali. Exactly the same as above.

Karanīyam attha-kusalena

Yan tam santam padam abhisamecca

Sakko ujū ca sūjū ca

Suvaco c’assa mudu anatimāni.

Santussako ca subharo ca

Appakicco ca sallahuka-vutti

Santindriyo ca nipako ca

Appagabbho kulesu ananu-giddho.

Na ca khuddam samācare kiñci

Yana viññū pare upavadeyyum

Sukhino vā khemino hontu

Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā.

Ye keci pānabhūt atthi

Tasā vā thāvarā vā anavasesā

Dighā vā ye mahantā vā

Majjhimā rassakā nukathūlā

Ditthā vā yeva additthā

Ye ca dūre vasanti avidūre

Bhūtā vā sambhavesī vā

Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā

Na paro param nikubbetha

N’ātimaññetha katthacinam kañci

Byārosanā patighasaññā

N’āñña-maññasa dukkham iccheyya

Mātā yathā niyam puttam

Āyusā ekaputtam anurakkhe

Evam pi sabbabhūtesu

Mānasam bhāvaye aparimānam

Mettam ca sabba-lokasmim

Mānasam bhāvaye aparimānam

Uddham adho ca tiriyañ ca

Asambādham averam asapattam

Tittham caram nisinno vā

Sayāno vā yāvat’assa vigatamidho

Etam satim adhittheyya

Brahmam etam vihāram idha-māhu

Ditthiñ ca anupagamma sīlavā

Dassanena sampanno

Kāmesu vineyya gedham

Na hi jātu gabbhaseyyam punar-eti’ti.

Pronunciation of Pali

To help with the pronunciation of the Pali text I’ve included this helpful most efficient way I found to learn the proper sounds for each of the funny letters.

‘a’ sounds like ‘u’ as in but

‘ā’ sounds like ‘r’ as in art

‘i’ sounds like ‘i’ as in pin

‘ī’ sounds like ‘ee’ as in seed

‘u’ sounds like ‘u’ as in put

‘ū’ sounds like ‘oo’ as in rule

‘j’ sounds like ‘j’ as in judge

‘y’ sounds like ‘y’ as in yard

‘m’ sounds like ‘ng’ as in sing

‘ñ’ sounds like ‘gn’ as in mignon

‘c’ sounds like ‘ch’ as in rich

Kind regards

Dhamma Tāpasā

Published by 4enlightenment

Dhamma Tāpasā is the spiritual name given to Andrew Hallas a fully trained and former Buddhist Monk who now Teaches & coaches the Art of Transforming Your Thinking to Transform Your Mind.

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