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.
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