Mettasutta untranslated

Mettasutta 01. 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. Snp.vss.143-52; see also the Paritta collection, where it is called Karaṇiyamettasutta, by which name it is more popularly known.

This Sutta was preached by Gotama Buddha to five hundred monks who had obtained from him a formula for meditation and dwelt in a region in the Himālaya. 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 Sāvatthī. 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 (Khp-a.232ff.; cp. Dhp­a.i.313ff).

The Sutta is included in the Parittas.

Mettasutta 02. Once when the Buddha was at Haliddavasana, a discussion arose between some monks and some Paribbājakas 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 Paribbājakas 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 bojjhaṅga; goodwill has the “beautiful” for its excellence, compassion the infinity of space, sympathy the infinity of consciousness, and equanimity the sphere where nought exists (SN.v.115f).

Mettāsutta 01. 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. AN.ii.128.

Mettāsutta 02. Very similar to the above. Such persons are born, after death, in the Suddhāvāsā. AN.ii.129.

Mettāsutta 03. When a man has developed emancipation of the mind through goodwill, compassion, sympathy and equanimity, by the signless (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. AN.iii.290f.

Mettāsutta 04. 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. AN.iv.388f.

Mettāsutta 05. Eleven advantages which come from the development of goodwill towards all beings. AN.v.342.

Mettāsutta 06. The idea of goodwill, if cultivated, leads to much profit. SN.v.131.