Practice of Buddhist Wisdom and loving Kindness

n the Karaniya Metta Sutta, Buddha has indicated many ways of leading a happy and contented life here on earth and also hereafter which ultimately leads to the eradication of all suffering.

To achieve this happiness one has to be

1) Clever, efficient, able - “sakko”

2) Upright in Conduct, Safeguarding the Precepts by abstaining for example from Killing, Stealing, Sexual Misconduct, Lying, Partaking of Intoxicants, etc. - “uju

3) Extremely Honest - “suju”

4) Willing to listen to the Good and the Noble - “suvaca”

5) Very mild and flexible - “mudu”

6) Humble and not be proud and conceited and self-opinionated - “anatimani”

7) Happy and satisfied with whatever one has - “santussa”

8) Easy to manage, with only a few wants and undemanding - “subhara”

9) Not over loaded with work, have some leisure - “appa kicca”

10) Relaxed and not over taxed having an enjoyable profession - “sallahuka-vutti”

11) Able to restrain the Senses of Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue, Touch and Mind and also the Sensory Stimuli of sights, sounds, smells, tastes and bodily touch. These sensations should not bring up emotions of anger or attachment. When the outside world brings pleasant sensations, one must be restrained and not get carried away by greed and attachment. Likewise, when unpleasant sensations arise one has to be restrained and not become angry and resentful. “santindriya”

Through Mindfulness and Wisdom, one must learn to control one’s emotions. “nipaka”
Mindfulness of being in the Present needs training in Vipassana Meditation, where one learns the art of “Letting Go’. Stop proliferating thoughts and memories of the past or hopes for the future, which arc just imaginary processes, without any prejudice, fear or favour. Being ever mindful of the present moment brings Wisdom as follows:


(1) Knowing the changing nature of the mind, body and environment – Impermanence “anicca”

(2) Understanding the Pain and Suffering of the mind and body. “dukkha”

(3) Knowing the Causal conditions that are necessary for the maintenance of the Body and mind and understanding the utter lack of ownership in terms of  “Me”, “I” and “Mine” - Non Self “anatta”

These three factors when seen again and again, develops true wisdom and helps in the restraining of the Senses. In this way the greed for pleasant sensations and anger towards unpleasant sensations can be controlled and restrained.
Seeing the actions and reactions Karma and Vipaka also helps to restrain the senses. To control the senses, one has to

1) Be refined in behaviour, not coarse and vulgar – “appa gabbho”

2) Be without any notions of family, clan, caste etc.- “kulesu ananu giddho”

3)     Be heedful to the advice of good and noble ones and try to redeem one’s bad behaviour accordingly by listening to the Dhamma and following religious ethics – “vinnu pare upavadeyyum”

4) Wish that all beings be well and happy and that they may forgive others and forgive themselves – “sukhinova khemino”

5) Spread Loving Kindness to all beings without any exception – “sabbe satta bhavantu sukhi tatta”

6)  Whatever living beings there may be – Ye keci pana bhu tatti

7) Wish that all living beings in the universe, all those who live in fear, and the fearless, ones with long bodies or short, the huge ones, the middle sized or the minute ones, those that can be seen and the unseen, those living far and near, those born and unborn be well and happy. – “tasa va thavara va anava sesa dighava ye mahanta va majjhima rassa kanuka thula dittha va ye ca addittha yeca dure vasanti avidure bhuta va sambhave siva”

8) Wish that all beings may never deceive one another –“‘na paro param nikubbetha”

9) Wish that they never speak highly of themselves and disparage others – “nati mannetha kaththaci nam kanci”

10) Not show signs of anger by facial expressions or bodily gestures – “bhayarosana patigha sanna”

11) Never give pain and suffering to one another – “nanna mannassa dukkha miccheyya”

12) Just as a mother with an only child would protect it at the risk of her own life, so must we protect the lives of all living beings – “mata yathaniyam puttam ayusa eka putta manu rakkhe”

13) Even so towards all beings “evampi sabba bhutesu

14) Let him cultivate boundless mind “Mansam bhavaye aparimanam”

15) Give loving kindness to all living beings – “mettanea sabba lokasmin”

16) Above, below and around, may all living beings be free from pain and suffering, from anger and hatred and enmity – “uddham adho ca tiriyanca assambhadam averam asapatam” (mediatation)

17) Wish that all living beings be well and happy – “Sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta”

18) Standing, sitting, walking, lying down and even until falling asleep, may all beings practice this meditation on loving kindness with determination – “tittham, caram, nisinnova sayanova yavatassa vigata middho”

19) He should develop this mindfulness “Etam satin adhiteyya”

20) This indeed is the practice of the Great Brahma – “brahma metam viharam”

21) Free from wrong view, virtuous, keeping precepts, practicing Vipassana Meditation, seeing impermanence pain and non self, giving up sensual pleasure such a being would never sleep in a mother’s womb again since he would be an enlightened one – “ditthinca anupa gamma silava dassanena sampanno kamesu vineyya gedham nahi jatu gabba seyyam punarettiti””