AN 8 The Book of the Eights – Aṭṭhakanipāta > AN 8.1 The Benefits of Love

Numbered Discourses 8.1 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.1

1. Love – 1. Mettāvagga

AN 8.1 The Benefits of Love – Mettāsutta

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.3

There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhū,

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

1.4

“Bhikkhū!”

“bhikkhavo”ti.

1.5

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

1.6

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“Bhikkhū, you can expect eight benefits when the heart’s release by love has been cultivated, developed, and practiced, made a vehicle and a basis, kept up, consolidated, and properly implemented.

“Mettāya, bhikkhave, cetovimuttiyā āsevitāya bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya aṭṭhānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā.

2.2

What eight?

Katame aṭṭha?

2.3

You sleep at ease. You wake happily. You don’t see bad dreams. Humans love you. Non-humans love you. Deities protect you. You can’t be harmed by fire, poison, or blade. If you don’t reach any higher, you’ll be reborn in a Brahmā realm.

Sukhaṁ supati, sukhaṁ paṭibujjhati, na pāpakaṁ supinaṁ passati, manussānaṁ piyo hoti, amanussānaṁ piyo hoti, devatā rakkhanti, nāssa aggi vā visaṁ vā satthaṁ vā kamati, uttariṁ appaṭivijjhanto brahmalokūpago hoti.

2.4

You can expect these eight benefits when the heart’s release by love has been cultivated, developed, and practiced, made a vehicle and a basis, kept up, consolidated, and properly implemented.

Mettāya, bhikkhave, cetovimuttiyā āsevitāya bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya ime aṭṭhānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhāti.

3.1

A mindful one who develops

Yo ca mettaṁ bhāvayati,

3.2

limitless love

appamāṇaṁ paṭissato;

3.3

weakens the fetters,

Tanū saṁyojanā honti,

3.4

seeing the ending of attachments.

passato upadhikkhayaṁ.

4.1

Loving just one creature with a hateless heart

Ekampi ce pāṇamaduṭṭhacitto,

4.2

makes you a good person.

Mettāyati kusalī tena hoti;

4.3

Compassionate for all creatures,

Sabbe ca pāṇe manasānukampī,

4.4

a noble one creates abundant merit.

Pahūtamariyo pakaroti puññaṁ.

5.1

The royal potentates conquered this land

Ye sattasaṇḍaṁ pathaviṁ vijetvā,

5.2

and traveled around sponsoring sacrifices—

Rājisayo yajamānā anupariyagā;

5.3

horse sacrifice, human sacrifice,

Assamedhaṁ purisamedhaṁ,

5.4

the sacrifices of the ‘stick-casting’, the ‘royal soma drinking’, and the ‘unbarred’.

Sammāpāsaṁ vājapeyyaṁ niraggaḷaṁ.

6.1

These are not worth a sixteenth part

Mettassa cittassa subhāvitassa,

6.2

of the mind developed with love,

Kalampi te nānubhavanti soḷasiṁ;

6.3

as all the constellations of stars

Candappabhā tāragaṇāva sabbe,

6.4

aren’t worth a sixteenth part of the moon’s light.

Yathā na agghanti kalampi soḷasiṁ.

7.1

Don’t kill or cause others to kill,

Yo na hanti na ghāteti,

7.2

don’t conquer or encourage others to conquer,

na jināti na jāpaye;

7.3

with love for all sentient beings,

Mettaṁso sabbabhūtānaṁ,

7.4

you’ll have no enmity for anyone.”

veraṁ tassa na kenacī”ti.

7.5

Paṭhamaṁ.