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Samyutta Nikaya

# SN 46.54 Mettāsahagata Sutta (Radiating Universally Benevolent Loving Kindness) SN 46.54

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    [page 1]
    SN 46.54
    Mahāvagga Saṁyutta
    (Connected Discourses On the Great Section)

    Magga Saṁyutta
    (Connected Discourses On the Path)

    Sākaccha Vagga
    (The Section on Discussing the Dhamma)

    Mettāsahagata Sutta
    “Radiating Universally Benevolent Loving Kindness”

    Translated by Bhikkhu Candana
    Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana 2023
    Once, The Blessed One was living among the Koḷiyans, in a town called Haliddavasana.
    Then one morning, a number of Bhikkhus, having put on their robes and while carrying with
    them their outer robe and alms bowl, entered the town of Haliddavasana to collect their daily
    alms. Then it occurred to them: ‘It is still too early to go for alms in Haliddavasana at this time.
    Let us go and spend the time at the gathering place of those wanderers from other sects.’

    So, those Bhikkhus went instead to the gathering place of the wanderers from other sects. Once
    there, they exchanged friendly greetings with those wanderers and sat down, once they had
    concluded their cordial talk.

    Those wanderers then began saying to those Bhikkhus:

    “Friends, the Recluse Gautama, your Teacher, teaches the Dhamma to his disciples in this way:

    1. ‘Come, Bhikkhus, abandon the five hindrances, the corruptions that defile the heart,
    weakening wisdom, and instead dwell with a heart that is permeating with universally
    benevolent loving kindness, then radiate it while pervading one direction of space, as you
    experience the feeling of universal benevolent loving kindness permeating within you. Similarly,
    also with the second direction, the third direction, and the fourth direction. And in the same way,
    continue spreading it as it permeates in the direction above you, below you, spreading it all
    around you, and finally much like a sphere, radiating it in all directions at once, encompassing
    all beings everywhere with universally benevolent loving kindness, as if to yourself, while
    continuing to live with a heart that is suffused with it, radiating as it increasingly grows to
    become vastly wide, exalted, beyond all measure, beyond any danger, without any hostility or
    fear.’

    [page 2]
    2. ‘Similarly, dwell with a heart that is permeating with compassion, then radiate it while
    pervading one direction of space, as you experience the feeling of compassion permeating within
    you. Similarly, also with the second direction, the third direction, and the fourth direction. And
    in the same way, continue spreading it as it permeates in the direction above you, below you,
    spreading it all around you, and finally much like a sphere, radiating it in all directions at once,
    encompassing all beings everywhere with compassion, as if to yourself, while continuing to live
    with a heart that is suffused with it, radiating as it increasingly grows to become vastly wide,
    exalted, beyond all measure, beyond any danger, without any hostility or fear.’

    3. ‘Similarly, dwell with a heart that is permeating with altruistic joy, then radiate it while
    pervading one direction of space, as you experience the feeling of altruistic joy permeating
    within you. Similarly, also with the second direction, the third direction, and the fourth direction.
    And in the same way, continue spreading it as it permeates in the direction above you, below
    you, spreading it all around you, and finally much like a sphere, radiating it in all directions at
    once, encompassing all beings everywhere with altruistic joy, as if to yourself, while continuing
    to live with a heart that is suffused with it, radiating as it increasingly grows to become vastly
    wide, exalted, beyond all measure, beyond any danger, without any hostility or fear.’

    4. ‘Similarly, dwell with a heart that is permeating with equanimity, then radiate it while
    pervading one direction of space, as you experience the feeling of equanimity permeating within
    you. Similarly, also with the second direction, the third direction, and the fourth direction. And
    in the same way, continue spreading it as it permeates in the direction above you, below you,
    spreading it all around you, and finally much like a sphere, radiating it in all directions at once,
    encompassing all beings everywhere with equanimity, as if to yourself, while continuing to live
    with a heart that is suffused with it, radiating as it increasingly grows to become vastly wide,
    exalted, beyond all measure, beyond any danger, without any hostility or fear.’

    “But you see, friends, we too teach the Dhamma to our disciples exactly and in just the same
    manner!

    “So, friends, what is the distinction here, what is the uniqueness, or the difference between the
    Dhamma that your Teacher, the Recluse Gautama teaches, and ours?”

    Then, those Bhikkhus having listened to the question, neither agreed with what was stated nor
    rejected the statement of those wandering ascetics of other sects. Instead, they arose from their
    seats and left while reflecting:

    ‘We shall go and find out from The Blessed One Himself, the answer to that question, and learn
    the meaning of this statement, from The Teacher’s own lips.’

    Then, when those Bhikkhus had gone to the town of Haliddavasana for their alms food, and
    having returned to the monastery, after their meal was over, they approached The Blessed One.
    Once having paid homage to The Blessed One, they sat to one side and reported to Him the
    entire conversation that had taken place earlier that day between themselves and those wandering
    ascetics of other sects.

    [page 3]
    In His reply, The Blessed One said:

    “Bhikkhus, when wandering ascetics of other sects speak to you in this manner, then you should
    respond to them by asking this clarifying question instead:

    ‘And how exactly, friends, does the heart become liberated through the practice of universal
    benevolent loving kindness? What is its true objective? What is its peak? What is its fruition?
    What is its final goal?’
    ‘Similarly, how exactly does the heart become liberated through the practice of compassion?
    What is its true objective? What is its peak? What is its fruition? What is its final goal?’
    ‘Similarly, how exactly does the heart become liberated through the practice of altruistic joy?
    What is its true objective? What is its peak? What is its fruition? What is its final goal?’
    ‘Similarly, how exactly does the heart become liberated through the practice of upekkha? What
    is its true objective? What is its peak? What is its fruition? What is its final goal?’

    “Now, Bhikkhus, once having been asked in this manner, those wandering ascetics of other sects
    would be unable to give you a proper response. Further, they would become rather perplexed and
    even upset. And why is that?

    “Because those questions would simply reveal their ignorance and lack of understanding due to
    their inability in answering you, for these are beyond their scope of practice or knowledge.

    “Know this, Bhikkhus! I do not see in this world system, with all its Devas, Māra, and Brahmā,
    in this generation with its recluses and all its religious practitioners, whether among Devas or
    humans, anyone who could give an appropriate and satisfying response to those questions,
    except the Tathagata or a Disciple of the Tathagata, or someone who has learned it from them.
    A. “Now, Bhikkhus, how does the heart become liberated through the practice of universal
    benevolent loving kindness? What is its true objective? What is its peak? What is its fruition?
    What is its final goal?’

    1. “Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Mindfulness Awakening Factor as he floods his
    heart and permeates it with universal benevolent loving kindness, meanwhile supporting
    himself through seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate
    into Full Liberation.

    2. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Investigation of States Awakening Factor as he
    floods his heart and permeates it with universal benevolent loving kindness, meanwhile
    supporting himself through seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which
    culminate into Full Liberation.

    3. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Persevering Effort Awakening Factor as he floods
    his heart and permeates it with universal benevolent loving kindness, meanwhile supporting
    himself through seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate
    into Full Liberation.

    [page 4]
    4. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Spiritual Joy Awakening Factor as he floods his
    heart and permeates it with universal benevolent loving kindness, meanwhile supporting
    himself through seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate
    into Full Liberation.

    5. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Tranquility of Mind Awakening Factor as he
    floods his heart and permeates it with universal benevolent loving kindness, meanwhile
    supporting himself through seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which
    culminate into Full Liberation.

    6. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Collectedness of Mind Awakening Factor as he
    floods his heart and permeates it with universal benevolent loving kindness, meanwhile
    supporting himself through seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which
    culminate into Full Liberation.

    7. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Equanimity Awakening Factor as he floods his
    heart and permeates it with universal benevolent loving kindness, meanwhile supporting
    himself through seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate
    into Full Liberation.

    And if, Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhu thinks to himself: ‘May I see the repulsive in what is attractive,’
    he is able to perceive it as such.
    If he thinks to himself: ‘May I see the attractive in what is repulsive,’ he is able to perceive it as
    such.
    If he thinks to himself: ‘May I see the attractive in what is both repulsive and attractive,’ he is
    able to perceive them as such.
    If he thinks to himself: ‘May I see the repulsive in what is both attractive and repulsive,’ he is
    able to perceive them as such.
    And if he thinks to himself: ‘By avoiding them both, may I overcome what is repulsive and
    attractive,’ he is able to rest in equanimity, while continuously exercising mindful and clear
    awareness of all things and whatever he comes in contact with, as he lives in peaceful
    emancipation, which he attains.
    “And Bhikkhus, I declare that even if the wise Bhikkhu who has somehow not yet penetrated
    into the Supreme Liberation, but with the heart becoming liberated itself through the practice of
    universal benevolent loving kindness, it would still be the most beautiful thing, the apex of his
    spiritual practice!
    B. “Now, Bhikkhus, how does the heart become liberated through the practice of compassion?
    What is its true objective? What is its peak? What is its fruition? What is its final goal?’

    1. “Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Mindfulness Awakening Factor as he floods his
    heart and permeates it with compassion, meanwhile supporting himself through seclusion,
    dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full Liberation.

    [page 5]
    2. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Investigation of States Awakening Factor as he
    floods his heart and permeates it with compassion, meanwhile supporting himself through
    seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full
    Liberation.

    3. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Persevering Effort Awakening Factor as he floods
    his heart and permeates it with compassion, meanwhile supporting himself through seclusion,
    dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full Liberation.

    4. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Spiritual Joy Awakening Factor as he floods his
    heart and permeates it with compassion, meanwhile supporting himself through seclusion,
    dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full Liberation.

    5. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Tranquility of Mind Awakening Factor as he
    floods his heart and permeates it with compassion, meanwhile supporting himself through
    seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full
    Liberation.

    6. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Collectedness of Mind Awakening Factor as he
    floods his heart and permeates it with compassion, meanwhile supporting himself through
    seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full
    Liberation.

    7. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Equanimity Awakening Factor as he floods his
    heart and permeates it with compassion, meanwhile supporting himself through seclusion,
    dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full Liberation.

    And if, Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhu thinks to himself: ‘May I see the repulsive in what is attractive,’
    he is able to perceive it as such.
    If he thinks to himself: ‘May I see the attractive in what is repulsive,’ he is able to perceive it as
    such.
    If he thinks to himself: ‘May I see the attractive in what is both repulsive and attractive,’ he is
    able to perceive them as such.
    If he thinks to himself: ‘May I see the repulsive in what is both attractive and repulsive,’ he is
    able to perceive them as such.
    And if he thinks to himself: ‘By avoiding them both, may I overcome what is repulsive and
    attractive,’ he is able to rest in equanimity, while continuously exercising mindful and clear
    awareness of all things and whatever he comes in contact with, staying equanimous throughout.

    “And, by having completely transcended and gone beyond the confines of thinking in terms of
    the physical world and of tangibility, along with the disappearance of perceptions dealing with
    sensory reflexive contact, and by no longer paying any attention to the multiplicity of unending
    perceptions, and instead, while remaining fully aware of space being infinitely boundless, the
    Bhikkhu enters the realm of ‘Infinity of Space.’

    [page 6]
    “And Bhikkhus, I declare that even if the wise Bhikkhu who has somehow not yet penetrated
    into the Supreme Liberation, but with the heart becoming liberated itself through the practice of
    compassion, he would nevertheless experience the realm of infinity of space, as the apex of his
    spiritual practice!
    C. “Now, Bhikkhus, how does the heart become liberated through the practice of altruistic joy?
    What is its true objective? What is its peak? What is its fruition? What is its final goal?’

    1. “Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Mindfulness Awakening Factor as he floods his
    heart and permeates it with altruistic joy, meanwhile supporting himself through seclusion,
    dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full Liberation.

    2. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Investigation of States Awakening Factor as he
    floods his heart and permeates it with altruistic joy, meanwhile supporting himself through
    seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full
    Liberation.

    3. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Persevering Effort Awakening Factor as he floods
    his heart and permeates it with altruistic joy, meanwhile supporting himself through seclusion,
    dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full Liberation.

    4. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Spiritual Joy Awakening Factor as he floods his
    heart and permeates it with altruistic joy, meanwhile supporting himself through seclusion,
    dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full Liberation.

    5. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Tranquility of Mind Awakening Factor as he
    floods his heart and permeates it with altruistic joy, meanwhile supporting himself through
    seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full
    Liberation.

    6. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Collectedness of Mind Awakening Factor as he
    floods his heart and permeates it with altruistic joy, meanwhile supporting himself through
    seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full
    Liberation.

    7. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Equanimity Awakening Factor as he floods his
    heart and permeates it with altruistic joy, meanwhile supporting himself through seclusion,
    dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full Liberation.

    “And if, Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhu thinks to himself: ‘May I see the repulsive in what is attractive,’
    he is able to perceive it as such.
    If he thinks to himself: ‘May I see the attractive in what is repulsive,’ he is able to perceive it as
    such.
    If he thinks to himself: ‘May I see the attractive in what is both repulsive and attractive,’ he is
    able to perceive them as such.
    If he thinks to himself: ‘May I see the repulsive in what is both attractive and repulsive,’ he is
    able to perceive them as such.

    [page 7]
    “And if he thinks to himself: ‘By avoiding them both, may I overcome what is repulsive and
    attractive,’ he is able to rest in equanimity, while continuously exercising mindful and clear
    awareness of all things and whatever he comes in contact with, staying equanimous throughout.

    “And, by having completely transcended the state of space being infinitely boundless, and by
    experiencing how consciousness is infinite, while remaining fully aware of consciousness being
    infinite, the Bhikkhu enters the realm of ‘Infinity of Consciousness.’

    “And Bhikkhus, I declare that even if the wise Bhikkhu who has somehow not yet penetrated
    into the Supreme Liberation, but with the heart becoming liberated itself through the practice of
    altruistic joy, he would nevertheless experience the realm of infinity of consciousness, as the
    apex of his spiritual practice!
    D. “And how, Bhikkhus, does the heart become liberated through the practice of equanimity?
    What is its true objective? What is its peak? What is its fruition? What is its final goal?’

    1. “Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Mindfulness Awakening Factor as he floods his
    heart and permeates it with equanimity, meanwhile supporting himself through seclusion,
    dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full Liberation.

    2. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Investigation of States Awakening Factor as he
    floods his heart and permeates it with equanimity, meanwhile supporting himself through
    seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full
    Liberation.

    3. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Persevering Effort Awakening Factor as he floods
    his heart and permeates it with equanimity, meanwhile supporting himself through seclusion,
    dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full Liberation.

    4. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Spiritual Joy Awakening Factor as he floods his
    heart and permeates it with equanimity, meanwhile supporting himself through seclusion,
    dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full Liberation.

    5. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Tranquility of Mind Awakening Factor as he
    floods his heart and permeates it with equanimity, meanwhile supporting himself through
    seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full
    Liberation.

    6. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Collectedness of Mind Awakening Factor as he
    floods his heart and permeates it with equanimity, meanwhile supporting himself through
    seclusion, dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full
    Liberation.

    7. “Further, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu develops the Equanimity Awakening Factor as he floods his
    heart and permeates it with equanimity, meanwhile supporting himself through seclusion,
    dispassion, cessation, through constantly giving up, which culminate into Full Liberation.

    [page 8]
    And if, Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhu thinks to himself: ‘May I see the repulsive in what is attractive,’
    he is able to perceive it as such.
    If he thinks to himself: ‘May I see the attractive in what is repulsive,’ he is able to perceive it as
    such.
    If he thinks to himself: ‘May I see the attractive in what is both repulsive and attractive,’ he is
    able to perceive them as such.
    If he thinks to himself: ‘May I see the repulsive in what is both attractive and repulsive,’ he is
    able to perceive them as such.
    And if he thinks to himself: ‘By avoiding them both, may I overcome what is repulsive and
    attractive,’ he is able to rest in equanimity, while continuously exercising mindful and clear
    awareness of all things and whatever he comes in contact with, staying equanimous throughout.

    “And, by having completely transcended the state of consciousness being infinitely boundless,
    and by experiencing the fact that there is nothing at all, while remaining fully aware that there is
    nothing at all, the Bhikkhu enters the realm of ‘Nothingness.’

    “And Bhikkhus, I declare that even if the wise Bhikkhu who has somehow not yet penetrated
    into the Supreme Liberation, but with the heart becoming liberated itself through the practice of
    equanimity, he would nevertheless experience the realm of nothingness, as the apex of his
    spiritual practice!

    Sādhu

    Sādhu

    Sādhu

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