1.4.8

Lesson 1.4.8 Karaṇīyamettasuttaṃ, Part One – Pursuing One’s Own Good and the Well-being of Others

The Karaṇīyamettasuttaṃ, also called Mettasuttaṃ, is one of the best known suttas and is used as a protective chanting (paritta) in many countries. The Buddha uttered this sutta to a group of five hundred Bhikkhus who had retired to a secluded place at the base of the Himalayan mountains for their meditation retreat during the monsoon. After some time, the forest-gods felt disturbed and started to frighten the Bhikkhus away. In spite of the strict rule for a Bhikkhu to remain at a chosen place during an entire rainy season, they returned irritated to the Buddha to ask him whether they could search for another location. The Buddha then admonished and advised them to return to the same place, and encouraged them to develop the practice of Mettā towards all beings as taught in this sutta. In this course, the Karaṇīyamettasuttaṃ is presented in its entirety in two different lessons, part one and part two. Each part’s Introduction will highlight the respective verses with part one focusing on the exemplary qualities of the Bhikkhus while part two illuminates the practice of Mettā.