Karaniyametta Sutta
Session 1 - 28/07/2024
The practice of loving-kindness, or Metta, toward oneself and others is the main topic of the Karaniyametta Sutta. According to the Sutta, cultivating loving-kindness can lead to inner peace and happiness as well as a more peaceful and compassionate relationship with others. It emphasizes the significance of showing love and kindness to all beings, regardless of their background or circumstances, and provides detailed instructions for cultivating metta towards oneself, loved ones, acquaintances, and even enemies. One can experience the profound benefits of unconditional love and cultivate a strong sense of empathy and compassion by practicing the Karaniya Metta Sutta.
Origin of the Sutta
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 and hoped the monks would leave soon; but finding that the monks would stay the vassana period of three months, they harassed them in diverse ways, during the night with the intention of scaring them away.
Living under such conditions seemed impossible, so the monks went to the Buddha and informed him of their difficulties. The Buddha instructed them in the Metta sutta and advised their 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, allowed them to meditate in peace.
Main discussion Points
Below are some questions that we discussed in the sutta session and some general answers we came up with to them. For privacy reasons, the people involved in the discussion are going to remain anonymous.
What is the difference between uju (honesty) and suju (extreme honesty)?
We had a very open discussion about how we view honesty versus extreme honesty. All the participants had great answers. Some of these involved; seeing honesty as being truthful to others and extreme honesty as being truthful to yourself and staying loyal to your morals even when we are faced with difficult times and when we do things that are wrong. As humans we tend to justify our actions even when we are in the wrong and act out of anger, hate and jealousy so when we are trying to show extreme honesty, we learn how to hold ourselves accountable.
What encompasses the word ‘good’?
The word good means different things to different people. When we discussed what it means to be good a lot of amazing ideas were discussed. Being ‘good’ not only means being a nice person to others but also to yourself and holding your own morals strong. Some small groups also discussed how being ‘good’ has changed in modern society and how religion fits into the sociocultural norms of our own age. There is a big stigma against being religious in modern society which can make people sometimes feel alienated and that is why it is important to find ‘good’ friends when you walk through this path.
Key Stanzas and Annotations:
We discussed the first stanza of the Karaniya Metta Sutta in detail:
Pali Text:
“Karaṇīyam1 atthakusalena2, Yam tam santaṁ padaṁ abhisamecca3; Sakko4 ujū5 ca6 sūjū7 ca, Sūvaco8 cassa mudu9 anatimānī10”
Translation:
“One skilled in good, wishing to attain that state of peace, should act thus: One should be able, straight, upright, obedient, gentle and humble”
Karanīyam: Should be done
Atthakusalena: Skilled in good - Able to understand what should be done and not should be done, that is one understands what is kusal/akusal (wholesome, unwholesome), possessing right-view.
Santam padam abhisamecca: (Wish) to attain/realise that state of Peace. Refers to Nibbana in the ultimate sense.
Sakko: Able, capable
Ujū: Morally upright
Ca: And
Sūjū: Perfectly upright, honest, sincere
Sūvaco: Easy to advice and instruct, amenable to corrections
Mudu: gentle, mild, malleable (internal quality e.g. tender/gentle hearted)
Anatimānī: Humble, not full of pride
Useful links
Origin of the Karaniyametta Sutta:
English Translation of the Sutta
Ajahn Brahmali - The Metta Sutta
Audio Recordings
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