A Brief Introduction to the Mettā Sutta

The Mettā Sutta is also referred to as Karaṇīyamettā Sutta. The background of the scripture centers around a group of Buddhist monks were disturbed by spirits of the trees during their rains-retreat (Skt. varṣa) in a forest. So the Buddha taught them a method: cultivating the mind of loving-kindness.

Right from the very beginning of the scripture, the Buddha introduced 15 qualities required for practicing the meditation of loving-kindness, including being capable (sakka), upright (ujū), not craving the laity's offerings (kulesu ananugiddho), and refraining from committing even the tiniest or minor transgressions (Na ca khuddaṁ samācare kiñci yena viññū pare upavadeyyuṁ). Following these 15 qualities for cultivating wholesome virtues, the scripture then enumerates how sentient beings are categorized into four pairs and three groups as the objects of focus to cultivate loving-kindness.

The text for cultivating the meditation of loving-kindness includes the aspiration to treat one another sincerely without deception, to cultivate a heart that does not despise or wish others to suffer. The most notable among them is the loving-kindness as sincere as that of "a mother protecting her child."

In the end, the meditative concentration of loving-kindness is succeeded by the cultivation of contemplation, leading one to attain consummate insight (dassanena sampanno) that prevents one from falling into erroneous views (Diṭṭhiñca anupagamma). The emission of loving-kindness can "extend throughout the ten directions and everywhere" (tiriyaṃ) without any obstruction (asambādha). By maintaining right mindfulness (sati) of loving-kindness in daily life, one can eventually attain complete liberation, the state of mind of noble beings.



Related articles:

An Introduction to the Four Immeasurable States of Mind

A Brief Introduction to the Mettā Sutta

Ven. Dhammadipa on Cultivation of Four Immeasurable States of Mind

Zen Master Thầy Nhất Hạnh — Sowing the Seeds of Mindfulness with Compassion

His Holiness the Dalai Lama — Healing People's Mind with Loving-kindness, Compassion, Appreciative Joy, and Equanimity



Resource: Issue 460 of Humanity Magazine (December 2021), Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Original Chinese text: Ven. Yan Xiao (演曉法師)
Translation: Li Siang-ling
Editing: Keith Brown, Chang Chia-cheng (張家誠)