Bliss Of Being : Our Natural State

The Metta Sutta

By Wayne Hoover

My favorite quote in Buddhism comes from a line in the metta sutta:

Not over busy let him be simple in living.

Read on for the whole sutta:

Hymn of Universal Love (Metta Sutta)

Who seeks to promote his welfare-
Having glimpsed the state of perfect peace-
Should be able- honest and upright-
Gentle in speech- meek and not proud
Contented- he ought to be easy to support-
Not over-busy- and simple in living.
Tranquil his senses- let him be prudent-
And not brazen- nor fawning on families.
Also- he must refrain from any action
That gives the wise reason to reprove him.
(Then let him cultivate the thought:)
May all be well and secure-
May all being be happy!
Whatever living creatures there be-
Without exception- weak or strong-
Long- huge or middle-sized-
Or short- minute or bulky-
Whether visible or invisible-
And those living far or near-
The born and those seeking birth-
May all beings be happy!
Let none deceive or decry
His fellow anywhere;
Let none wish others harm
In resentment or in hate.
Just as with her own life
A mother shields from hurt
Her own son- her only child-
Let all-embracing thoughts
For all beings be yours.
Cultivate an all-embracing mind of love
For all throughout the universe-
In all its height- depth and breadth-
Love that is untroubled
And beyond hatred or enmity.
As you stand- walk- sit or lie-
So long as you re awake-
Pursue this awareness with your might:
It is deemed the Divine State here.
Holding no more to wrong beliefs-
With virtue and vision of the ultimate-
And having overcome all sensual desire-
Never in a womb is one born again.



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