His commentary really helps unpack the buddhas instructions, but most of all, his explanations convey such a wonderful sense of lovingkindness and encouragement. According to postcanonical sutta nipata commentary, the background story for the metta sutta is that a group of monks were frightened by the sprites in the forest where the buddha had sent them to meditate. Yes, we can simply say the phrase may all beings be happy, but this sutta is encouraging us to get beyond the platitude and actually try to think about all beings as we extend the. Gil fronsdals new book is a translation of and commentary on the chapter of the eights ahakavagga, the fourth chapter of the suttanipata, itself a miscellaneous collection of pali buddhist verses including such classics as the kara. It is ten verses in length and it extols both the virtuous. Metta bhavana lovingkindness meditation venerable dhammarakkhita venerable dhammarakkhita is an australian buddhist monk of the myanmar th eravada tradition. So, it is misleading to refer to those as the commentaries in question. The monks took shelter under huge trees as temporary residence and engaged themselves intensively in the practice of meditation.
He should be contented, easy to support, unbusy, simple in livelihood, with senses controlled, discreet. Required reading for any serious student of buddhism. Yes, we can simply say the phrase may all beings be happy, but this sutta is encouraging us to get beyond the platitude and actually try to think about all beings as we extend the attitude of loving. In the essay on the value of paritta an attempt is made to show what paritta means to a buddhist. He who is skilled in good, and wishes to attain that state of peace, should act thus. An exposition of the metta sutta association for insight meditation. See also my other karaniya metta sutta translation, and my translation of an exert from buddhagosas pali commentary which tells the story of how the metta sutta.
In connection with this theme we will also look at several other short texts dealing with metta. The metta sutta is the name used for two buddhist discourses pali. Although the metta sutta seems short and simple, it is not at all superficial. An ancient collection of the buddhas discourses together with its commentaries. It contains the complete text of the suttanipata about 200 pp. Santussako ca subharo ca appakicco ca sallahukavutti santindriyo ca nipako ca appagabbho kulesu ananugiddho. At one of venerable bhikkhu bodhis talks he said he is working on a translation of the mahaniddesa sutta nipata commentary, if i remember correctly bhante spoke of it on a talk from the dharma seed website, in a discussion on the samyutta nikaya with shaila catherine, which is a very good talk also. The suttas discourses by the buddha in this collection include some of the earliest recorded buddhist documents.
Morning and evening puja and reflections hemel hempstead. It is warning us not to fall into these viewsthat is, not to believe everything the mind conjures up for us, but to recognize its habitual function of creating limited versions of reality. How to apply the buddhas metta lovingkindness sutta in. Broadly speaking, a sutta practice is a regular habit of interacting directly with the suttas in a way that lifts the heart and brings us to faith in the blessed one, his dhamma, and his sangha of enlightened disciples. Metta is indeed a universal, unselfish and all embracing love. In spite of these, there is no peace and happiness. The pali word metta is a multisignificant term meaning lovingkindness. Lama shenpen hookham gives a commentary on the sutta teaching a mediation on love and compassion for all beings.
It also serves as a haven and hub for those seeking dharma by way of meditation and education, sutta study and translation, and spirituality. The historical background which led the buddha to expound the karaniya metta sutta is explained in the commentary written by acariya buddhaghosa, who received it from an unbroken line of elders going back to the days of the buddha himself it is told that five hundred monks received instructions from the buddha in the particular techniques of meditation. Heres a beautiful recording of the karaniya metta sutta, the classic buddhist sourcetext for metta, or lovingkindness and the theme of the upcoming triratna urban retreat. Humble and not conceited, contented and easily satisfied. They are mostly in verse, often with a short prose introduction. The pali text comes from the pali text society edited version. The buddha is guiding us toward an understanding of what will be of greatest value. The minding centre, based in singapore, is part of piya tans dharma ministry.
I have only read the commentarial sections on the lovingkindness sutta metta sutta and the discourse on blessings maha mangala sutta. Thus is the west covered by him and made safe and secure. Anandajoti reading the mettasutta translation in english sangharakshita. Its chanted in pali by joe richardson at the end of triratnas 2012 international retreat, as the buddhafield team gathered under canvas at the end of the retreat. Metta is one of the more important of the teachings of the buddha. Metta is goodwill, loving kindness, universal love, a feeling of friendliness and heartfelt concern for all living beings, human or non human, in all situations. The translation in this book is indeed smoothly readable, but what are you reading. In contrast, the commentaries in circulation today are not those ancient atthakatha, but more recent ones like visuddhimagga. The niddesa, a commentary in two parts on the contents of the atthaka vagga and portions of the parayana vagga, is included in the pali canon as a book of the khuddaka nikaya.
It appears in thich nhat hanh, chanting from the heart parallax press, rev. As a buddhist text, the metta sutta will be informing us that in order to reach. First of all, atthakatha a sinhala word meaning true accounts were the ancient commentaries on tipi. Let one not be submerged by the things of the world. Metta sutta not only guides as a meditation technique but also used as a guide for the moral and spiritual progress and serves as a protection technique paritta the buddha saw in his supernormal powers that this was the best place for them to achieve spiritual liberation. In it, sangharakshita shows us how to cultivate many of the facets of kindness in ordinary, everyday life. After extensive and intensive practice in vipassanamindfulnessinsight meditation in australia and myanmar, his teacher venerable chanmyay sayadaw. You might also be interested in the complete works of sangharakshita. Then those spirits tolerated their presence happily. For more information about lama shenpen, her teachings or the awakened heart sangha. It was founded in 2006 to provide dharmabased nonreligious service to those who seek wisdom, counsel and solace. There are many good commentaries on the anapanasati sutta, but over the years, the one i keep coming back to was written by the venerable u vimalaramsi.
Nov 20, 2016 lama shenpen hookham gives a commentary on the sutta teaching a mediation on love and compassion for all beings. I imagine that if the buddha preached the metta sutta today, the newspaper reporting the event would say. The discourse group, 2016, by thanissaro bhikkhu, is distributed free of charge by metta forest monastery. The commentary explains that, in brief, what should be done means that one should follow the bhikkhus training. Mindfulness of breathingthe anapanasati sutta metta refuge. Aug 23, 2017 this translation of the discourse on love has been prepared by thich nhat hanh from the metta sutta, sutta nipata 1. He urged them to practise lovingkindness towards all beings. Jun 14, 2018 the metta sutta, the buddhas discourse on loving kindness, is a key teaching in the pali canon. During my recent visit to myanmar, the socialactivist monks ashin issariya and ashin kovida both guided me to the metta sutta. Metta sutta the buddha on lovingkindness this is what should be accomplished by the one who is wise, who seeks the good and has obtained peace. The examination of the spiritual and ethical aspects of metta, will be based on an analysis of the karaoaya metta sutta, the hymn of universal love. Let one be strenuous, upright and sincere, without pride, easily contented and joyous. You may print copies of this book for your own use.
In bhikkhu bhodis lectures on the sutta nipata, he assigned this text, but was forced to retranslate words in just about every single line because the translator had failed to accurately render the intent of the pali text. Metta sutta verse 1 barre center for buddhist studies. Metta meditation metta is the word in the pali language that means lovingkindness. An exposition of the metta sutta the metta sutta often referred to as the kara. Living with kindness is a pithy commentary on the buddhas teaching of metta in the karaniya metta sutta. Whether visible or invisible this verse continues the metta suttas exercise of extending the intention of loving kindness as inclusively and extensively as we can possibly imagine. Title an exposition of the mangala sutta by bhikkhu. This beautiful book not only expertly guides us in cultivating lovingkindness, it is.
Since then he has written numerous books and translations of buddhist texts. The dharmafarers suttas with commentaries early buddhism. In buddhism, there are a set of canonical teachings known as. Metta is the highest need of the world today, indeed it is more needed than ever before.
Metta sutta this is what should be done by one who is skilled in goodness, and who knows the path of peace. Apr 24, 2010 the anapanasati suttathe buddhas own instruction on breath meditation if the two posts, above, have piqued your interest in learning more about mindfulness of breathing meditation, then at some point you may want to study the buddhas own personal instruction on the subjectthe anapanasati sutta. The sutta nipata the sutta collection, the fifth book of the khuddaka nikaya, consists of 71 short suttas divided into five vaggas chapters. The mahasamaya sutta and the atanatiya sutta ending the book may appear to some as pointless, but a careful reader will no doubt appreciate their relevance. Apr 06, 2017 the metta sutta the sermon on lovingkindness is part of the pali canon.
Metta sutta this is what should be done by one who is. As described in the summary of this book above, it is a translation of a very classic buddhist scripture from the pali canon. Many of these suttas have splendid wisdom about the world we live as well as insights for practical applications in daily lives. Lord buddha was then residing at savatthi in the pleasaunce of anthapindika. It was created by people as they practised and refers to the wise one, rather than to monks or nuns. This verse continues the metta suttas exercise of extending the intention of loving kindness as inclusively and extensively as we can possibly imagine. Visit the metta sutta shambhala times community news magazine. Metta sutta this is what should be done by one who is skilled.
The anapanasati suttathe buddhas own instruction on breath meditation if the two posts, above, have piqued your interest in learning more about mindfulness of breathing meditation, then at some point you may want to study the buddhas own personal instruction on the subjectthe anapanasati sutta. The suttanipata is one of the earliest texts of the pali cannon, coming from the same period as the dhammapada, before the monastic tradition was strong. On one occasion the exalted one was dwelling at the monastery of anathapindikain jetas grove, nearsavatthi. Karaniya metta sutta read aloud talking book by thanissaro bhikkhu.
Nov 17, 2011 at one of venerable bhikkhu bodhis talks he said he is working on a translation of the mahaniddesa sutta nipata commentary, if i remember correctly bhante spoke of it on a talk from the dharma seed website, in a discussion on the samyutta nikaya with shaila catherine, which is a very good talk also. This is what should be done by one who is skilled in goodness and who wishes to attain the state of peace and wisdom nirvana. They enlighten these suttas so much, you will wish you had this book ten years ago. Bcbs metta sutta pages dating the metta sutta back to. This discourse was recommended by the buddha as guard or protection for the use.
It is chanted by theravadan monks throughout the asian southeast. Now when the night was far spent, a certain deity, whose surpassing splendour illuminated the entire jeta grove, came to the presence of the exalted one, and drawing near, respectfully saluted him and stood at one side. The buddha taught them the metta sutta as a theme of. The suttas the buddhist holy book or sacred text one. The buddhas teachings on lovingkindness the metta sutta translation of the metta sutta from ayya khema. The commentary provides contextual stories for each sutta followed by a. The suttanipata contains the three most popular paritta suttas. This commentary is traditionally attributed to sariputra, and its presence in the canon is regarded as evidence of the relatively early composition of the sutta nipata. That is, the metta sutta begins with a list of things that the good practitioner should beskillful, capable, upright, peaceful, calm, etcand it is the lack of those many qualities especially the lack of metta itself which make one an outcaste. The metta sutta is not telling us here that these things are evil and we should make sure they never happen.
The teaching is called the metta sutta or, lovingkindness discourse. The commentary, the paramatthajotika, relates the background story to each sutta and explains each verse in detail. Karaniyam atthakusalena yan tam santam padam abhisamecca. This page was created from the metta sutta pages by andy olendzki that were formerly at the bcbs web site. In these five ways does the wife show her compassion to her husband who ministers to her as the west. Metta sutta is explained in the commentary written by acariya buddhaghosa, who. Download a pdf file 345 k to print your own booklets. Free uk delivery on book orders dispatched by amazon over. The buddhas words on cultivating a heart filled with good will metta towards all beings.
The word paritta, in this context, was used by the buddha, for the first time, in a discourse known as khandha paritta in the culla vagga of the vinaya pitaka vol. The pali commentary records that it was taught to a group of bhikkhus who were having problems with tree devas. The suttas the buddhist holy book or sacred text when people first come to investigate buddhism, they may wonder if there is a buddhist holy book or something like a buddhist bible. Listen to this sutta read by thanissaro bhikkhu 0156 1. Because in this new world, there are sufficient materials, money and brilliant wise men and scientists. A complete translation of the sutta nipata, sutta nipata. Here assutava puthujjano means one who has not comprehended tilakkhana. The volume includes numerous excerpts from the niddesa, an ancient commentary already included in the pali canon, which offers detailed expositions of each verse in the atthakavagga, the parayanavagga, and the rhinoceros horn sutta.
This book aims at exploring various facets of metta both in theory and in practice. The one, more often chanted by theravadin monks, is also referred to as kara. Jul 11, 2019 the following are links to sutta texts available for e book platforms such as the kindle, nook, and sony reader. Sep 26, 2017 the commentary, the paramatthajotika, relates the background story to each sutta and explains each verse in detail. Let them be able and upright, straightforward and gentle in speech. Jan 26, 2017 the teaching is called the metta sutta or, lovingkindness discourse. Or perhaps youve just watched a movie, or read a book, or had a discussion. It is found in the pali canons khuddakapatha and sutta nipata with the title metta sutta the discourse on friendliness. So far, i have only read the commentarial sections on the lovingkindness sutta metta sutta and the discourse on blessings maha mangala sutta. Nov 06, 2016 20 important suttas in the pali canon for lay buddhists there are tonnes of gems in the pali canon suttas of the theravada buddhist tradition. It gives instructions for lovingkindness practice and promises that liberation is its reward. Let one be capable, upright, exceedingly upright, easy to speak to, gentle, and humble. This translation of the discourse on love has been prepared by thich nhat hanh from the metta sutta, sutta nipata 1. The historical background which led the buddha to expound the karaniya metta sutta is explained in the commentary written by acariya buddhaghosa, who received it from an unbroken line of elders going back to the days of the buddha himself.