Evening Mettā Chant and Instructions
This evening session begins with the traditional Pali chanting of mettā (loving-kindness) meditation, including the classical Karaṇīyamettā Sutta verses. Bhante Bodhidhamma leads practitioners through the complete mettā formula: "May all beings be free of physical pain, may all beings be free of mental distress, may all beings be liberated from all their suffering, may all beings live in contentment and joy." Following the chanting, he offers practical guidance in Czech for maintaining mindful awareness as the retreat draws to a close. He addresses the common tendency for the mind to race ahead with plans and expectations about returning to daily life, explaining how this reveals our relationship with the world and our hopes and attachments. Bhante emphasizes that the period from now until sleep remains an important part of practice, encouraging practitioners to maintain present-moment awareness and wake mindfully with the morning bell. This teaching skillfully bridges formal mettā practice with practical instructions for sustaining retreat awareness during transition periods.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa. Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa. Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
Karaṇīyam attha kusalena yan taṃ santaṃ padaṃ abhisamecca
Sakko ujū ca sūjū ca suvaco cassa mudu anatimānī
Santussako ca subharo ca appakicco ca sallahukavutti
Santindriyo ca nipako ca appagabbho kulesvanuddayo
Na ca khuddaṃ samācare kiñci yena viññū pare upavadeyyuṃ
Sukhino vā khemino hontu sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā
Ye keci pāṇabhūt'atthi tasā vā thāvarā vā anavasesā
Dīghā vā ye mahantā vā majjhimā rassakā aṇukathūlā
Diṭṭhā vā ye ca adiṭṭhā ye ca dūre vasanti avidūre
Bhūtā vā sambhavesī vā sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā
Na paro paraṃ nikubbetha nātimaññetha katthaci naṃ kiñci
Byārosanā paṭighasaññā nāññamaññassa dukkham iccheyya
Mātā yathā niyaṃ puttaṃ āyusā ekaputtam anurakkhe
Evampi sabbabhūtesu mānasam bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ
Mettañca sabbalokasmiṃ mānasam bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ
Uddhaṃ adho ca tiriyañca asambādhaṃ averaṃ asapattaṃ
Tiṭṭhañcaraṃ nisinno vā sayāno vā yāvat'assa vigata-middho
Etaṃ satiṃ adhiṭṭheyya brahmam etaṃ vihāram idha-m-āhu
Diṭṭhiñca anupagamma sīlavā dassanena sampanno
Kāmesu vineyya gedhaṃ na hi jātu gabbhaseyyaṃ punar eti'ti
May all beings be free of physical pain.
May all beings be free of mental distress.
May all beings be liberated of all their suffering.
May all beings live in contentment and joy.
Sabbe sattā sukhitā hontu. Sabbe sattā sukhitā hontu.
Sādhu, sādhu, sādhu.
As we come towards the end of the course, the mind certainly starts to project. It starts to think about what I'm going to do tomorrow, the day after, the day after that, next week, next year, and so on. So this is interesting for us because it shows us our relationship with the world—what we expect from it, our hopes and so forth. But of course we shouldn't get caught up in it.
Usually the plans that we make on a course are completely contrary to reality, because whilst we've been here six days, going slowly and noting, the world out there has moved on—although I'm not entirely sure it still exists.
So remember that from now until we leave is also a very important part of our practice. Go to sleep with mettā or loving-kindness in your mind, or some beautiful thought. And of course that crucial resolve to wake up with the bell.
Sleep well.