Karaṇīya Mettā Sutta (The Discourse on Loving-Kindness)

Historical context

A group of five hundred monks entered a dense forest near the Himalayas to practice meditation during the rains retreat. Disturbed by the monks’ ascetic practice in their trees, local tree spirits created frightening apparitions and foul odors to drive them away. When the terrified monks returned to Sāvatthī, the Buddha gave them the Karaṇīya Mettā Sutta as both a protective shield (Paritta) and a supreme meditation subject (Kammaṭṭhāna), instructing them to return to the very same forest.

Stanza 1 · 第 1 偈

Snp 1.8:1

Canonical text: Karaṇīyamatthakusalena, yanta santaṃ padaṃ abhisamecca:
Sakko ujū ca sūjū ca, suvaco cassa mudu anatimānī,

中文: 善于义理、欲证寂静境界的人，应当能干、正直、极其正直，易于教导、柔和而不骄慢。

Light of Dharma translation: One skilled in what is good, having understood the path of peace, should be capable, upright, thoroughly honest, easy to instruct, gentle, and not conceited.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: The Foundation of Integrity & Teachability: Genuine loving-kindness is not passive sentimental affection; it is a formidable strength cultivated upon an ethical backbone. Before goodwill can radiate boundlessly, the heart must be upright, sincere, and free from defensive conceit. When you are easy to instruct and gentle in response to life, you disarm conflict at its root.

Stanza 2 · 第 2 偈

Snp 1.8:2

Canonical text: Santussako ca subharo ca, appakicco ca sallahukavutti,
Santindriyo ca nipako ca, appagabbho kulesvananugiddho.

中文: 知足、易于供养，少事而生活简朴；诸根寂静、审慎谦逊，不贪恋俗家。

Light of Dharma translation: Contented and easy to support, with few duties and a simple way of life; peaceful in the senses, prudent and modest, not greedily attached to families.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Noble Simplicity & Contentment: A mind burdened by endless ambitions, sensory restlessness, and social entanglements cannot generate boundless love. True goodwill demands mental space. By embracing simplicity and contentment—being easy to satisfy and calm in the senses—you protect the inner quiet necessary for love to flourish without depletion.

Stanza 3 · 第 3 偈

Snp 1.8:3

Canonical text: Na ca khuddamācare kiñci, yena viññū pare upavadeyyuṃ:
Sukhino vā khemino hontu, sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā.

中文: 不做任何会受智者责备的微细之事。愿一切众生安乐、安稳，愿他们内心幸福。

Light of Dharma translation: Let one do nothing, even slight, that the wise would criticize. May all beings be happy and secure; may they be happy at heart.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Conscientious Harmony & Boundless Goodwill: Wishing peace to the world is empty if our daily conduct causes subtle ripples of harm. Conscientious mindfulness—avoiding even minor actions that bring remorse—cleanses the heart. When your own life is blameless and gentle, your blessing for the safety and happiness of all beings carries genuine, unstinted power.

Stanza 4 · 第 4 偈

Snp 1.8:4

Canonical text: Ye keci pāṇabhūtatthi, tasā vā thāvarā vanavasesā:
Dīghā vā ye vā mahantā, majjhimā rassakā aṇukathūlā,

中文: 凡是有生命的，无论弱小或强壮，毫无遗漏；无论长大、中等、短小、微细或粗壮。

Light of Dharma translation: Whatever living beings there are—frail or firm, without exception; long or large, medium, short, subtle, or gross—

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Unconditional Inclusivity of Sentient Life: Notice the subtle human tendency to ration compassion—favoring the strong over the frail, the visible over the hidden, or the appealing over the strange. Wisdom pierces through all external forms, honoring the shared spark of sentience and vulnerability in every creature without exception.

Stanza 5 · 第 5 偈

Snp 1.8:5

Canonical text: Diṭṭhā vā ye vā adiṭṭhā, ye ca dūre vasanti avidūre:
Bhūtā vā sambhavesī vā, sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā.

中文: 无论可见或不可见，住在远方或近处，已经出生或正在寻求出生，愿一切众生内心幸福。

Light of Dharma translation: Seen or unseen, living far away or near, already born or seeking birth—may all beings be happy at heart.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Transcending Horizons of Space & Existence: Authentic goodwill cannot be bounded by geography, familiarity, or personal orbit. Extend benevolent awareness beyond the immediate horizon—to beings across distant lands, in unseen realms, and in future generations. Love ceases to be a transactional exchange and becomes a universal sanctuary.

Stanza 6 · 第 6 偈

Snp 1.8:6

Canonical text: Na paro paraṃ nikubbetha, nātimaññetha katthaci na kañci:
Byārosanā paṭighasaññā, nāññamaññassa dukkhamiccheyya.

中文: 不要欺骗他人，也不要在任何地方轻视任何人；不要因愤怒或敌意而希望他人受苦。

Light of Dharma translation: Let none deceive another or despise anyone anywhere. Through anger or aversion, let none wish suffering upon another.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Purifying Contempt & Retaliation: Contempt and deception are insidious poisons that sever our connection to truth. Even when provoked or wronged, refuse to nurture vindictive fantasies or wish hardship upon another. True strength does not retaliate; it understands that harmful actions stem from blindness and inner pain.

Stanza 7 · 第 7 偈

Snp 1.8:7

Canonical text: Mātā yathā niyaṃ puttam, āyusā ekaputtamanurakkhe:
Evampi sabbabhūtesu, mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ.

中文: 如同母亲以自己的生命保护独子，也应当对一切众生培育无量之心。

Light of Dharma translation: Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life, so should one cultivate an immeasurable mind toward all beings.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: The Maternal Heart of Boundless Care: Reflect upon a loving mother safeguarding her only child through every peril. This simile points not to possessive attachment, but to fearless, tender dedication. Expand that instinctive impulse to protect and nurture until it embraces every vulnerable living being in the cosmos.

Stanza 8 · 第 8 偈

Snp 1.8:8

Canonical text: Mettañca sabbalokasmiṃ, mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ:
Uddhaṃ adho ca tiriyañca, asambādhaṃ averamasapattaṃ.

中文: 应当向整个世界培育无量慈心：向上、向下及横遍四方，无障碍、无怨恨、无敌意。

Light of Dharma translation: One should cultivate an immeasurable mind of loving-kindness toward the whole world—above, below, and across—unrestricted, without enmity or hostility.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Spatial Radiance Without Obstruction: When hostility and rivalry subside, the mind expands in all directions like sunlight through clear air. Allow goodwill to radiate upward into high realms, downward into depths of sorrow, and across all daily horizons—spacious, unconstricted, and utterly without enemies.

Stanza 9 · 第 9 偈

Snp 1.8:9

Canonical text: Tiṭṭhaṃ caraṃ nisinno vā, sayāno vā yāvatassa vigatamiddho:
Etaṃ satiṃ adhiṭṭheyya, brahmametaṃ vihāramidhamāhu.

中文: 无论站立、行走、坐着或躺卧，只要清醒，就应当安住于这一念；人们称此为当下的梵住。

Light of Dharma translation: Whether standing, walking, sitting, or lying down, as long as one is awake, one should establish this mindfulness. This is called a sublime abiding here.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: The Living Sanctuary of Everyday Mindfulness: Loving-kindness is not an isolated meditation technique; it is a continuous posture of the awakened heart. In walking, standing, sitting, and resting, sustain this tender presence as your constant home. When every breath is infused with goodwill, daily life itself becomes a sacred sanctuary.

Stanza 10 · 第 10 偈

Snp 1.8:10

Canonical text: Diṭṭhiñca anupagamma, sīlavā dassanena sampanno:
Kāmesu vineyya gedhaṃ, na hi jātu gabbhaseyyaṃ punaretīti.

中文: 不执取邪见，具足戒行与正见，调伏对欲乐的贪求，便不再投生母胎。

Light of Dharma translation: Not taking up fixed wrong views, virtuous and endowed with vision, having subdued greed for sensual pleasures, one does not again come to lie in a womb.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Transcendent Insight & Final Liberation: Boundless goodwill reaches its crowning glory when wedded to liberating wisdom. When loving-kindness dissolves all ill will, and direct insight uproots the grasping for transient pleasures, the cycle of birth and sorrow ceases forever. Compassion and emptiness merge into the unconditioned peace of Nibbāna.