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KN Snp 1.8 analysis of Metta Sutta where mother protects child, in the same way one PROTECTS mind that radiates metta

 I've translated this famous and often misunderstood passage in such a way that I believe will prevent people from ever misinterpreting it again.

Mātā yathā niyaṁ puttam
Even as a mother would protect her own child,
Āyusā eka-puttam-anu-rakkhe;
her only child, at the risk of her own life,
Evam-pi sabba-bhūtesu,
so too towards all creatures [, for their safety and happiness, ]
Mānasaṁ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ.
[You] should develop [and protect your] unlimited heart.


First, let's examine something that happens fairly often in verse, using a Dhp passage to illustrate:

seṭṭho = surpeme. 

Notice seṭṭho only appears twice in the four lines,  but it acts as an adjective modifying all four objects, not just attaching to two of them as you would in normal situations. 

♦ 273.
♦ maggān-aṭṭh-aṅgiko seṭṭho,
(Of all) paths,-(the)-Eight-fold [Path] (is) supreme;
saccānaṃ caturo padā.
(of all) truths (the) Four [Noble Truths] (are) {supreme};
♦ virāgo seṭṭho dhammānaṃ,
Dis-passion (is the) supreme Dharma:
Dvi-padānañca cakkhumā.
(among) two-footed [beings] (the) one-who-sees [, the Buddha] (is) {supreme}.


Similarly, with the verse in the metta sutta passage KN Snp 1.8 with the child simile:

Mātā yathā niyaṁ puttam
Even as a mother would protect her own child,
Āyusā eka-puttam-anu-rakkhe;
her only child, at the risk of her own life,
Evam-pi sabba-bhūtesu,
so too towards all creatures [, for their safety and happiness, ]
Mānasaṁ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ.
[You] should develop [and protect your] unlimited heart.

rakkha = protect.

rakkha is modifying two objects from two sections, not just the child.


1. First, notice that it's not saying the mother is sending metta to her child. It's saying the mother is PROTECTING her child, even at the risk of her own life. And what is she protecting the child from? Obviously from any danger that would harm the child.


2. So even though the second part, where it tells you to develop an unlimited heart, doesn't use the word 'rakkha' (protect), like the Dhammapada verse shown above, it's understood to be an adjective modifying two different objects, instead of just one. 


3. And what is the meditator protecting? Not "all creatures", but the act of developing your unlimited heart. 

That seems to be a near consensus among all the major pāḷi expert monks. Thanissaro, Dhammanando, Sujato, many more.


4. The last part of the passage, notice the key word is bhāva.

bhāva = develop, or cultivate. 

Mānasaṁ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ.
[You] should develop [and protect your] unlimited heart.

It's not telling you to cherish your child, or cherish all living beings. 

It's telling you to develop and protect your unlimited heart.

You do that by infusing it with kindness, removing any ill will and greed or bias that would make the 'unlimited' heart 'limited' by bias, conditions, favoritism, distortion, delusion, etc. 

And by protecting the unlimited heart, it automatically protects all living beings because an unlimited heart would not act out in a way to harm any being. 


(end of article⏹️)


https://lucid24.org/kn/kn-snp/single/index.html#s1.8

Sutta Nipāta 1.8

(2022 SP-FLUENT translation by frankk‍ derived from B. Sujato‍ )

Metta-sutta
1.8 The Discourse on Friendly-kindness
“Karaṇīyamatthakusalena,
This is what should be done by those who are skilled in goodness,
Yanta santaṁ padaṁ abhisamecca;
and have known the state of peace.
Sakko ujū ca suhujū ca,
Let them be able and upright, very upright,
Sūvaco cassa mudu anatimānī.
easy to speak to, gentle and humble;
Santussako ca subharo ca,
content and unburdensome,
Appakicco ca sallahukavutti;
unbusied, living lightly,
Santindriyo ca nipako ca,
alert, with senses calmed,
Appagabbho kulesvananugiddho.
courteous, not fawning on families.
Na ca khuddamācare kiñci,
Let them not do the slightest thing
Yena viññū pare upavadeyyuṁ;
that others might blame with reason.
Sukhino va khemino hontu,
May they be happy and safe!
Sabbasattā bhavantu sukhitattā.
May all beings be happy!
Ye keci pāṇabhūtatthi,
Whatever living creatures there are
Tasā vā thāvarā vanavasesā;
with not a one left out—
Dīghā vā ye va mahantā,
frail or firm, long or large,
Majjhimā rassakā aṇukathūlā.
medium, small, tiny or round,
Diṭṭhā vā ye va adiṭṭhā,
visible or invisible,
Ye va dūre vasanti avidūre;
living far or near,
Bhūtā va sambhavesī va,
those born or to be born:
Sabbasattā bhavantu sukhitattā.
May all beings be happy!
Na paro paraṁ nikubbetha,
Let none turn from another,
Nātimaññetha katthaci na kañci;
nor look down on anyone anywhere.
Byārosanā paṭigha-sañña,
Though provoked or aggrieved,
Nāññamaññassa dukkham-iccheyya.
let them not wish pain on each other.
Mātā yathā niyaṁ puttam
Even as a mother would protect her own child,
Āyusā eka-puttam-anu-rakkhe;
her only child, at the risk of her own life,
Evam-pi sabba-bhūtesu,
so too towards all creatures [, for their safety and happiness, ]
Mānasaṁ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ.
[You] should develop [and protect your] unlimited heart.
Mettañca sabbalokasmi,
With Friendly-kindness for the whole world,
Mānasaṁ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ;
develop an unlimited heart.
Uddhaṁ adho ca tiriyañca,
Above, below, all round,
Asambādhaṁ a-veram-a-sapattaṁ.
unconstricted, without vengeful-animosity or hostility.
Tiṭṭhaṁ caraṁ nisinno va,
When standing, walking, sitting,
Sayāno yāvatāssa vitamiddho;
or lying down while yet unweary,
Etaṁ satiṁ adhiṭṭheyya,
One is strongly determined to maintain this remembrance [of Dharma on metta],
Brahmametaṁ vihāram-idhamāhu.
for this, they say, is a holy abiding in this life.
Diṭṭhiñca anupaggamma,
Avoiding harmful views,
Sīlavā dassanena sampanno;
virtuous, accomplished in insight,
Kāmesu vinaya gedhaṁ,
with greed for sensuality removed,
Na hi jātuggabbhaseyya punaretī”ti.
they never come back to a womb again.

(end of sutta⏹️)


Mettasuttaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.
(metta sutta was the 8th sutta in this section)





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