7.
The Discourse on the Development of Friendliness
27.
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, shines and burns and is brilliant.
"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, shines and burns and is brilliant; 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, shines and burns and is brilliant.
"Just as, monks, in the last month of the rains, in the autumn season, when the sky is clear and free from clouds, the sun ascending into the sky, having dispelled all the darkness in space, shines and burns and is brilliant; 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, shines and burns and is brilliant.
"Just as, monks, towards the break of dawn, the morning star shines and burns and is brilliant; 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, shines and burns and is brilliant." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Mental fetters become thin, for one seeing the elimination of clinging.
And compassionate in mind towards all living beings, the noble one generates abundant merit.
The horse-sacrifice, the human-sacrifice, the sammāpāsa, the vājapeyya, the niraggaḷa.
Just as all the hosts of stars with the moon's radiance.
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.