Evening Mettā Chant
This traditional evening mettā chant in Pali extends loving-kindness and goodwill to all beings throughout the universe. Bhante Bodhidhamma leads this beautiful recitation that begins with cultivating mettā for oneself, then progressively extends it to teachers, supporters, monastics, and all sentient beings in every direction.
The chant systematically radiates loving-kindness to the ten directions (east, west, north, south, northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest, above, and below), encompassing all categories of beings: those who are born, those who breathe, all creatures great and small, females and males, noble ones and ordinary beings, devas, humans, and those in unfortunate states.
The traditional phrases wish for all beings to be free from hostility (avera), free from affliction (abyāpajja), free from distress (anīgha), to maintain their happiness (sukhī attānaṃ pariharantu), to be released from suffering (dukkhā muccantu), and to not fall away from their good fortune (yathāladdha-sampadāya mā vigacchantu). This practice cultivates the first of the four brahmavihāras and supports both formal meditation and daily life with an attitude of universal friendliness.
Ahaṃ avero homi, abyāpajjo homi, anīgho homi, sukhī attānaṃ pariharāmi, dukkhā mucāmi, yathāladdha sampattito, avigaccāmi.
May I be free from hatred, free from ill-will, free from anxiety. May I keep myself happy and free from suffering. With whatever gains I have, may I not be parted from them.
Amākaṃ catupaccaya dāyaka, averā hontu, abyāpajjā hontu, anīghā hontu, sukhī attānaṃ pariharantu, dukkhā mucantu, yathāladdha sampattito, avigaccantu.
May our donors of the four requisites be free from hatred, free from ill-will, free from anxiety. May they keep themselves happy and free from suffering. With whatever gains they have, may they not be parted from them.
Amākam mātā pitu ācāriya ñāti mittā samūhā averā hontu abyāpajjā hontu anīghā hontu sukhī attānaṃ pariharantu dukkhā mucantu yathāladdha sampattito avigaccantu.
May our mothers, fathers, teachers, relatives and friends be free from hatred, free from ill-will, free from anxiety. May they keep themselves happy and free from suffering. With whatever gains they have, may they not be parted from them.
Imasmiṃ vihāre sabbe bhikkhū, sabbā bhikkhunī, sabbe upāsakā, sabbe upāsikā averā hontu abyāpajjā hontu anīghā hontu sukhī attānaṃ pariharantu dukkhā mucantu yathāladdha sampattito avigaccantu.
May all monks, all nuns, all male lay disciples, all female lay disciples in this monastery be free from hatred, free from ill-will, free from anxiety. May they keep themselves happy and free from suffering. With whatever gains they have, may they not be parted from them.
Imasmiṃ gāme, janapade, yāvañca ukāsiṃ, sabbe janatā averā hontu, abyāpajjā hontu, anīghā hontu sukhī attānaṃ pariharantu dukkhā mucantu yathāladdha sampattito avigaccantu.
May all people in this village, in this country, as far as the horizon, be free from hatred, free from ill-will, free from anxiety. May they keep themselves happy and free from suffering. With whatever gains they have, may they not be parted from them.
Purattimāya disāya, pacchimāya disāya, uttarāya disāya, dakkhiṇāya disāya, purattimāya anudisāya, pacchimāya anudisāya, uttarāya anudisāya, dakkhiṇāya anudisāya, heṭṭhimāya disāya, uparimāya disāya.
In the eastern direction, western direction, northern direction, southern direction, southeastern direction, northwestern direction, northeastern direction, southwestern direction, the downward direction, the upward direction.
Sabbe sattā, sabbe pāṇā, sabbe bhūtā, sabbe puggalā, sabbe attabhāvapariyāpannā, sabbā itthī, sabbe purisā, sabbe ariyā, sabbe anariyā, sabbe devā, sabbe manussā, sabbe vinipatikā, averā hontu, abyāpajjā hontu, anīghā hontu, sukhī attānaṃ pariharantu, dukkhā mucantu, yathāladdha sampattito, avigaccantu.
May all beings, all breathing things, all creatures, all persons, all individuals, all females, all males, all noble ones, all ordinary beings, all devas, all humans, all in woeful states, be free from hatred, free from ill-will, free from anxiety. May they keep themselves happy and free from suffering. With whatever gains they have, may they not be parted from them.
Kāmasukkhā.
May all beings be happy.