1. Metta Sutta. One should be diligent and upright,
gentle and not vain glorious, free from deceit. Let none, out of anger, or
through resentment, wish misery to another. A person should cherish boundless
goodwill towards all beings, like a mother fostering her only son. SN.vss.143-52; also Khp.p.8f.; where it is called Karaniyametta Sutta, by which name it is
more popularly known.
This sutta was preached by the Buddha to five hundred
monks who had obtained from him a formula for meditation and dwelt in a region
in the Himalaya. The gods there were alarmed by the goodness of the monks and
tried to frighten them away. The monks, constantly harassed, sought the Buddha
at Savatthi. He preached this sutta to them and admonished them on the practice
of goodwill. They followed his advice, and the gods, understanding, left them in
peace (KhpA.232ff.; cp. DhA.i.313ff).
The sutta is included in the Parittas.
2. Metta Sutta. Once when the Buddha was at
Haliddavasana, a discussion arose between some monks and some
Paribbajakas as to
whether there was any difference between their respective doctrines since they
both inculcated the practice of goodwill, compassion, sympathy, and equanimity.
The monks consulted the Buddha, who told them that the Paribbajakas were
ignorant of how to cultivate these qualities, of what was their goal and their
excellence, their fruit and their ending.
He then proceeded to explain to them that these are
cultivated through the seven bojjhanga; goodwill has the beautiful for its
excellence, compassion the infinity of space, sympathy the infinity of
consciousness, and equanimity the sphere where nought exists. (S.v.115f).
-- or --
1. Metta Sutta. On four kinds of persons to be
found in the world those who irradiate all quarters with goodwill,
compassion, sympathy and equanimity. These are born after death in various
Brahma worlds; if they happen to be disciples of the Buddha, they will no more
return to the world of men. A.ii.128.
2. Metta Sutta. Very similar to the above. Such
persons are born, after death, in the Suddhavasa. A.ii.129.
3. Metta Sutta. When a man has developed
emancipation of the mind through goodwill, compassion, sympathy and equanimity,
by the sign less (animitta) and getting rid of the thought I am, it cannot, be
said of him that he has failed to find escape from the opposite qualities.
A.iii.290f.
4. Metta Sutta. Nine qualifications which, if they
accompany the observance of the fast days, make such observance fruitful
the eight precepts (abstention from killing, etc.), and irradiating the world
with thoughts of goodwill. A.iv.388f.
5. Metta Sutta. Eleven advantages which come from
the development of goodwill towards all beings. A.v.342.
6. Metta Sutta. The idea of goodwill, if
cultivated, leads to much profit. S.v.131.
