Metta
ChatGPT-4/DALL-E3, 2024-01-16
The Karaniya Metta Sutta, a cornerstone of Buddhist teachings, and related passages from the Christian Bible, enlighten us on the universal values of love, compassion, and mindfulness.
who wants to break through to the state of peace:
Be capable, upright, and straightforward,
easy to instruct, gentle, not conceited,
content and easy to support,
with few duties, living lightly,
with peaceful faculties, masterful, modest,
and no greed for supporters.
Do not do the slightest thing
that the wise would later censure.
- Karaniya Metta Sutta
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
meditate on these things.
- Philippians 4:8
In the Karaniya Metta Sutta, the path to peace and enlightenment is marked by virtues such as capability, honesty, gentleness, and contentment. These are remarkably parallel to the Christian virtues mentioned in Philippians 4:8, which urges meditation on all that is true, honorable, and commendable. Both texts advocate for a life led with integrity and mindfulness, emphasizing the inner transformation required for spiritual progress.
Whatever beings there may be, weak or strong,
without exception,
long, large, middling, short, subtle, blatant, seen and unseen,
near and far, born and seeking birth:
May all beings be happy at heart.
- Karaniya Metta Sutta
The Metta Sutta's call for universal loving-kindness, extending to all beings without discrimination, resonates with the core Christian teaching of universal love and compassion. This boundless love, akin to a mother's love for her only child, is a fundamental tenet shared across these spiritual traditions, underscoring our interconnectedness and shared humanity.
or through anger or irritation wish for another to suffer.
As a mother would risk her life to protect her child, her only child,
even so should one cultivate a limitless heart with regard to all beings.
With good will for the entire cosmos, cultivate a limitless heart:
Above, below, and all around, unobstructed, without enmity or hate.
- Karaniya Metta Sutta
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
so that you may be children of your Father in heaven;
for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous."
- Matthew 5:43-45
Both the Metta Sutta and Jesus' teaching in Matthew exhort us to transcend ordinary reactions of anger, resentment, and division. They call for an expansive heart that loves unconditionally, challenging us to extend compassion even to those we might consider enemies. This radical love is a transformative force, fostering peace and harmony in a divided world.
as long as one is alert, one should be resolved on this mindfulness.
This is called a sublime abiding here and now.
- Karaniya Metta Sutta
and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
- John 14:23 (KJV)
The practice of mindfulness in the Metta Sutta is closely mirrored in the Christian practice of abiding in the presence of the Divine, as described in John 14:23. Both teachings emphasize the importance of continuous awareness and the presence of the sacred in every moment of life. This shared spiritual discipline fosters a deep connection with the divine and all beings, cultivating a state of peace and compassion.
The Karaniya Metta Sutta and the selected Biblical passages reflect a profound unity in their call for love, compassion, and mindfulness. They guide us towards a universal spirituality that transcends religious boundaries, inviting us to live in harmony with all beings and cultivate inner peace. May we embrace these teachings and let them guide our journey towards greater understanding and spiritual fulfillment.