Mettābhāvanā Sutta (Iti 27) – The Discourse on the Development of Friendliness

7. The Discourse on the Development of Friendliness

27. More Details This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:

"Whatever ways of making merit that are connected with clinging, monks, all of them are not worth a sixteenth fraction of the liberation of mind through friendliness. The liberation of mind through friendliness alone, having surpassed them, glows, radiates, and shines.

"Just as, monks, whatever radiance there is of the stars, all of it is not worth a sixteenth fraction of the radiance of the moon, the radiance of the moon alone, having surpassed them, glows, radiates, and shines; so too, monks, whatever ways of making merit that are connected with clinging, all of them are not worth a sixteenth fraction of the liberation of mind through friendliness, the liberation of mind through friendliness alone, having surpassed them, glows, radiates, and shines.

"Just as, monks, in autumn, during the last month of the rains, when the sky is clear and cloudless, the sun, ascending into the sky and dispelling all the darkness in space, glows, radiates, and shines; so too, monks, whatever ways of making merit that are connected with clinging, all of them are not worth a sixteenth fraction of the liberation of mind through friendliness, the liberation of mind through friendliness alone, having surpassed them, glows, radiates, and shines.

"Just as, monks, towards dawn, the morning star glows, radiates, and shines; so too, monks, whatever ways of making merit that are connected with clinging, all of them are not worth a sixteenth fraction of the liberation of mind through friendliness, the liberation of mind through friendliness alone, having surpassed them, glows, radiates, and shines." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:

"Whoever develops friendliness, immeasurable, mindful;

Mental fetters become thin, for one seeing the elimination of clinging.

"If even towards one living being with an uncorrupted mind, one is friendly, by that one becomes skilful;

And compassionate in mind towards all living beings, the noble one generates abundant merit.

"Those royal seers who, having conquered the earth filled with beings, went about sacrificing;

The horse-sacrifice, the human-sacrifice, the sammāpāsa, the vājapeyya, the niraggaḷa.

"Of a mind of friendliness well developed, they are not worth even a sixteenth fraction;

Just as all the hosts of stars with the moon's radiance.

"Whoever neither kills nor causes to kill, neither conquers nor causes to conquer;

Having a share of friendliness towards all beings, for him there is no enmity with anyone."

This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The seventh.