Brahmavihara Dhamma

(38) It is not adequate doing the recitation only, one also needs to practise

The third line in the first stanza contains the word “anuyunjjhanto” which denotes “practising”. This expression in itself does not convey the sense to just do the recitation of the Metta Sutta. The intention probably is to refer to the practising of Metta bhavana, i.e. developing metta through practical meditation. It is because in the Metta Sutta, where eleven advantages of metta bhavana are enumerated, it has been elucidated that these are the advantages of metta ceto vimutti. The expression “metta ceto vimutti” could not possibly have reference to mere requirement of recitation only. Only appana-jhana is Metta ceto vimutti. This has been clearly explained in the Anguttara Commentary (p. 37). Hence, if advantages, such as sukham supati, i.e. has the benefit of a sound sleep, etc., are desirable, metta or loving-kindness meditation should also be developed in addition to the recitation. Now one or two stanzas (verses) of the Metta Sutta in Pali will be recited and elucidated.