Robin Beck

Chanting the Metta Sutta

Metta-Karuna {Jihi} Cultivations

The Metta-Karuna cultivations are part of the traditional Mindfulness {Samatha}Practices. As such, they are provisional teachings. They do not lead us directly to Enlightenment. But they make the journey a lot more pleasant. And, viewed from the stand point of the Three Vehicles Unified as One Vehicle, they are part of a "Compleat Praxis."

There are, I think, some good compassion cultivations in Japanese Soto Zen. There are also some awesome, beautiful, inspiring compassion cultivating chanting meditations in the Chinese Pure Land and Tibetan Vajra Traditions. But for the purest Metta Cultivations, the Pali Canon of the Theravada tradition apears to be the best source.

Metta, or Maitri in Sanskrit, is, IMCO, exactly the same as the Greek Agape, or pure, unconditioned love. This is more than a phony, guilt trip prompted benevolence. In a pure form, Metta is a palpable, awe inspiring, blissful energy wave, one that penetrates the coldest, most cruel heart.

It is taught in most Schools of Buddhsim as one of the Four Brahma-Vihara, or Divine Palaces of Brahma. Nyanaponika Thera explains:

" Four sublime states of mind have been taught by the Buddha:

Love or Loving-kindness (metta)
Compassion (karuna)
Sympathetic Joy (mudita)
Equanimity (upekkha)"

"In Pali, the language of the Buddhist scriptures, these four are known under the name of Brahma-vihara, a term which may be rendered as excellent, lofty, or sublime states of mind; or alternatively, as Brahma-like, god-like or divine abodes."

"These four attitudes are said to be excellent or sublime because they are the right or ideal way of conduct towards living beings (sattesu samma patipatti). They provide, in fact, the answer to all situations arising from social contact. They are the great removers of tension, the great peace-makers in social conflict, and the great healers of wounds suffered in the struggle of existence. They level social barriers, build harmonious communities, awaken slumbering magnanimity long forgotten, revive joy and hope long abandoned, and promote human brotherhood against the forces of egotism."

The Metta Sutta English-1.mp3 ... Pali w/English Narration.ram...Verses on Loving Kindness2.mp3

1: The Buddhist Society of Western Australia
2. Aruna Ratanagiri Buddhist Monastery
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The story of the Metta Sutta

This story illustrates how 'mettawaves' influence the environment. It is a universal non-verbal "language" that is "understood" not only by humans, but by animals, plants, and insentiet nature as well.

Once the Bhagava ( Lord Buddha) was staying at the Jetavana monastery in the pleasance of Anathapindika at Savatthi. A group of monks received permission from the Lord to meditate in a distant forest during the period of Buddhist Lent. Each of the monks took shelter under a big tree as a temporary residence and an engaged themselves intensively in the practice of meditation.

On account of the spiritual power of their meditation, the tree deities could not stay in their trees-abodes above the monks, so they had to come down to the ground. Realizing that the monks would spend the whole rainy season there, the deities were much annoyed.

So they tried to scare the monks away during the night by harassing them in various ways. After living under such impossible conditions for some time, the monks could not bear it any longer and rushed back to the Buddha and informed him about their difficulties. So the Buddha advised them to recite the text of loving kindness (Metta Sutta) and to radiate the spirit of love to all beings.

On the full-moon day of Wagaung, the Buddha taught the monks the Metta Sutta. From that day till now, the full-moon day of Wagaung has been called as the Great or Grand Occasion of Metta. Encouraged by this discourse, the monks returned to their respective places.

They practiced in accordance with the instructions given them to permeate the entire atmosphere with radiant thoughts of love. The tree-deities were much pleased to be affected by the power of love, and so let the monks (meditators)stay without any further disturbances. -- www.urbandharma.org
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Karaniya Metta Sutta -- The Discourse on Loving-kindness
While the Buddha was staying at Savatthi, a band of monks, having received subjects of meditation from the master, proceeded to a forest to spend the rainy season (vassana). The tree deities inhabiting this forest were worried by their arrival, as they had to descend from tree abodes and dwell on the ground. They hoped, however, the monks would leave soon; but finding that the monks would stay the vassana period of three months, harassed them in diverse ways, during the night with the intention of scaring them away.

Living under such conditions being impossible, the monks went to the Master and informed him of their difficulties. Thereon the Buddha instructed them in the Metta sutta and advised they return, equipped with this sutta, for their protection. The monks went back to the forest, and practicing the instruction conveyed, permeated the whole atmosphere with their radiant thoughts of metta or loving-kindness. The deities so affected by this power of love, henceforth allowed them to meditate in peace.

Anguttara Nikaya XI.16

Thus have I heard:
On one occasion the Blessed One was living near Savatthi at Jetavana at Anathapindika's monastery. Then he addressed the monks saying, "Monks." -- "Venerable Sir," said the monks, by way of reply. The Blessed One then spoke as follows:

"Monks, eleven advantages are to be expected from the release (deliverance) of heart by familiarizing oneself with thoughts of loving-kindness (metta), by the cultivation of loving-kindness, by constantly increasing these thoughts, by regarding loving-kindness as a vehicle (of expression), and also as something to be treasured, by living in conformity with these thoughts, by putting these ideas into practice, and by establishing them. What are the eleven?

1. "He sleeps in comfort. 2. He awakes in comfort. 3. He sees no evil dreams. 4. He is dear to human beings. 5. He is dear to non-human beings. 6. Devas (gods) protect him. 7. Fire, poison, and sword cannot touch him. 8. His mind can concentrate quickly. 9. His countenance is serene. 10. He dies without being confused in mind. 11. If he fails to attain arahantship (the highest sanctity here and now, he will be reborn in the brahma-world.

"These eleven advantages, monks, are to be expected from the release of heart by familiarizing oneself with thoughts of loving-kindness, by cultivation of loving-kindness, by constantly increasing these thoughts, by regarding loving-kindness as a vehicle (of expression), and also as something to be treasured, by living in conformity with these thoughts, by putting these ideas into practice and by establishing them."

So said the Blessed One. Those monks rejoiced at the words of the Blessed One.
Translated from the Pali by Piyadassi Thera
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The four immeasurables
May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.
May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.
May all beings rejoice in the well-being of others.
May all beings live in peace, free from greed and hatred.
www.ling.upenn.edu/~beatrice/buddhist-practice/metta-sutta.htm
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Posted by rbeck at April 19, 2006 02:03 AM