Sutta Nipata I.8 - The Metta Sutta
The Buddha's Words on Loving-Kindness

Metta Sutta - Ayya Khema/Ven. Khantipalo
Metta Sutta - Andy Olendzki
Metta Sutta - Amaravati Sangha

Metta Sutta - Ayya Khema/Ven. Khantipalo

What should be done by one who's skilled in wholesomeness
To gain the state of peacefulness is this:
One must be able, upright, straight and not proud,
Easy to speak to, mild and well content,
Easily satisfied
And not caught up in too much bustle,
And frugal in ones ways,
With senses calmed, intelligent, not bold,
Not being covetous when with other folk,
Abstaining from the ways that wise ones blame,

And this the thought that one should always hold:
"May beings all live happily and safe
And may their hearts rejoice within themselves.
Whatever there may be with breath of life
Whether they be frail or very strong, without exception,
Be they long or short or middle-sized,
Or be they big or small, or thick,
Or visible, or invisible,
Or whether they dwell far or they dwell near,
Those that are here, those seeking to exist
May beings all rejoice within themselves.

Let no one bring about another's ruin
And not despise in any way or place,
Let them not wish each other any ill
From provocation or from enmity".

Just as a mother at the risk of life
Loves and protects her child, her only child,
So one should cultivate this boundless love
To all that live in the whole universe
Extending from a consciousness sublime
Upwards and downwards and across the world
Untroubled, free from hate and enmity.
And while one stands and while one walks and sits
Or one lies down still free from drowsiness
One should be intent on this mindfulness
This is divine abiding here they say.
But when one lives quite free from any view,
Is virtuous, with perfect insight won,
And greed for sensual desires expelled,
One surely comes no more to any womb.

Metta Sutta - Andy Olendzki

This is what’s done by one skilled in what’s good,
Who reaches toward that most peaceful state:
One would be capable, and straight--quite straight;
Well-spoken, gentle, without too much pride.
Content with little, easily maintained,
Not doing too much and lightly engaged;
Thoughtful, with a peaceful demeanor, and
Modest, without greed among worldly things.
One would not do even the slightest thing
That others who are wise would speak against.
May they be secure and profoundly well;
--May all beings be happy in themselves.
Whatsoever living beings exist,
Without exception, whether weak or strong,
Whether tall and large, middle-sized, or short,
Whether very subtle or very gross,
Whether visible or invisible,
Dwelling far away or not far away,
Whether born already or not yet born
--May all beings be happy in themselves.
Let no one work to undo another.
Let no one think badly of anyone.
Either with anger or with violent thoughts,
One would not wish suffering on others,
Just as a mother would watch over her
Son--her one and only son--with her life,
In just the same way develop a mind
Unbounded toward all living creatures.
Develop a mind of loving kindness
Unbounded toward the entire world:
Above and below and all the way ‘round,
With no holding back, no loathing, no foe.
Standing, walking, sitting or lying down,
As long as one is devoid of torpor,
One would resolve upon this mindfulness
--This is known as sublime abiding here.
Without falling into mistaken views,
Endowed with insight and integrity,
Guiding away greed for sensual things,
One would not be born again in a womb.

The Metta Sutta - Amaravati Sangha

This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who seeks the path of peace:
Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech.
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied.
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.
Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,
Not proud and demanding in nature.
Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.
Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born,
May all beings be at ease!
Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings:
Radiating kindness over the entire world
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.