Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

Karaṇīyamatthakusalena,

yantaṃ santaṃ padaṃ abhisamecca;

One who is skilled in welfare and

who wishes to attain the ultimate peace,

sakko ujū ca suhujū ca,

suvaco cassa mudu anatimānī.

Should be able, upright, very upright,

soft-spoken, gentle, and humble.

Santussako ca subharo ca,

appakicco casallahukavutti;

One should be contented, easily supported,

with few involvements and few wants

santindriyo ca nipako ca,

Appagabbho kulesvananugiddho

With senses calmed, discreet, not impudent,

and not be greedily attached to families.

Na ca khuddaṃ samācare kiñci,

yena viññū pareupavadeyyuṃ;

One should not commit the slightest wrong for

which one might be censured by the wise.

sukhino vā khemino hontu,

sabbe sattā bhavantusukhitattā.

May all beings be happy and secure,

may they be happy within themselves.

Ye keci pāṇabhūtatthi,

tasā vā thāvarā vanavasesā;

Whatever living beings there may be,

without exception, movable or stationary,

dīghā vā ye mahantā vā,

majjhimā rassakā aṇukathūlā.

long or large,

medium or small, fine or coarse.

Diṭṭhā vā yeva adiṭṭhā,

ye ca dūre vasanti avidūre;

Seen or unseen,

those dwelling far or near,

bhūtā vā sambhavesī vā,

sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā.

those who are born and those coming to birth,

may all beings be happy within themselves

Na paro paraṃ nikubbetha,

nātimaññetha katthaci na kañci

Let none deceive another

or despise anyone anywhere;

byārosanā paṭighasanna,

nāññamaññassa dukkhamiccheyya.

filled with anger or ill-will,

let one not wish any harm for another.

Mātā yathā niyaṃ puttaṃ,

āyusā ekaputtamanurakkhe;

Just as a mother would protect her only child

with her own life,

evampi sabbabhūtesu

mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ.

even so let one cultivate

boundless love towards all beings.

Tiṭṭhaṃ caraṃ nisinno vā,

sayāno yāvatassa vigatamiddho;

Whether one is standing, walking, sitting

or lying down, as long as one is awake,

etaṃ satiṃ adhiṭṭheyya,

brahmametaṃ vihāramidhamāhu.

one should develop this mindfulness [of boundless mettā].

This, they say, is a sublime way of living.

Diṭṭhinca anupaggamma,

sīlavā dassanena sampanno,

Not falling into wrong views,

endowed with sīla and insight,

kāmesu vineyya gedhaṃ,

na hi jātu gabbhaseyyaṃ punaretī ti.

discarding sensual desire,

one does not come into a womb again.