These beautiful words by the Buddha have inspired deep introspection on what it means to live from, and as, universal love for hundreds of years. This version of his words were translated by Buddha Shakyamuni. Please read, ponder, live, and enjoy.

The Discourse on Loving-Kindness

This is what should be done by those who are skilled in kindness

and who know the path of peace:

Let us be able and upright,

straightforward and gentle in speech,

humble and not conceited,

contented and easily satisfied,

unburdened with duties and frugal in our ways.

Peaceful and calm and wise and skillful,

not proud and demanding in nature,

let us not do the slightest thing

that the wise would reprove.

In gladness and in safety,

let us wish that all beings be at ease.

Whatever living beings there may be,

whether they are weak or strong,

the great and mighty, the large, medium, or small,

the seen and the unseen,

those living near and far away,

those born and to be born, omitting none,

may all beings be at ease.

Let us not deceive another or despise any being in any state.

Let us not, through anger or ill-will wish harm upon another.

Like a mother protects her child, her only child, with her own life,

so, with a boundless heart should we cherish all living beings.

Let us radiate kindness over the entire world,

spreading upwards to the skies and downwards to the depths,

outwards and unbounded, free from hatred and ill-will.

Whether standing, walking, seated, or lying down,

free from drowsiness, we should sustain this recollection.

This is the sublime blessing, the sublime abiding.

By not grasping at fixed views,

the pure-hearted, having clarity of vision,

being freed from all sense craving,

are not born again into suffering.

Banner Photo Credit: Lawrence Crayton @nextfnlevel