"And the meek shall inherit the earth", can be even be construed
as such:- Karaniya Metta Suttanta; " Discourse in Loving
Kindness"
Psalms 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach
sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach
his way.
Psalms 25:12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he
teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the
earth.
Psalms 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret
not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of
the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise
to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the
LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou
shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight
themselves in the abundance of peace.
Psalms 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their
inheritance shall be for ever.
Psalms 37:22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth;
and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the
earth.
This is what should be done by one who is skilled in goodness
and who wishes to attain the State of Peace and Wisdom
(Nirvana):
Let one be capable, upright, exceedingly upright,
easy to instruct, gentle, and humble.
Let one be content, not a burden to others but easily
supported,
with but few responsibilities, and living simply,
with the senses composed and serene, let one be prudent,
courteous,
not proud or demanding, unswayed by the emotions of others;
and let one not commit the slightest wrong
for which the wise would later reprove.
Let one contemplate and wish:
May all beings be well and safe.
May all beings be happy.
Whatever living beings there may be—
whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
the great or the mighty, medium size, short, small, or large,
those seen and those unseen, those dwelling near and far
away,
those born as well as those yet to be born—
may all beings be happy at heart.
Let no one deceive another, nor despise anyone in any place.
Let no one through anger or hatred wish harm upon another.
Just as a mother protects her child, her only child, with her very
life,
even so with a boundless heart of love let one cherish all living
beings.
Let one radiate boundless love over the entire world—
spreading upwards to the skies and downwards to the depths;
in all directions—without any obstruction,
completely free from hostility or hatred.
While standing or walking, sitting or lying down,
as long as one is awake, without laziness,
let one sustain this recollection (mindfulness) of love.
This is said to be Noble Living,
and this is called the Sublime Abiding.
By not falling into wrong views—
being virtuous, endowed with ultimate clarity and insight,
having discarded greed for sensual desires—
then truly, never again will one return to be conceived in a
womb.
May all beings be happy and peaceful
(free from suffering and distress)
May all beings be safe and secure
(free from fear and harm)
May all beings be healthy and prosperous
(free from pain, illness, and lack)
May all beings live joyfully and with ease
(free from struggle and conflict)
This excellent meditation derives from the Discourse On
Loving-kindness (Metta Sutta) given by the Buddha 2600 years ago.
The loving-kindness he spoke of then is still the deepest need of
the world today. The Pali word Metta (Maitri in Sanskrit) means
universal loving-kindness, friendliness, and goodwill free from
expectation and possessiveness. However, this is not the ordinary,
sensual, emotional, or sentimental kind of love that most people
commonly express. Metta has a far greater significance than this.
Metta is an all-embracing love—a sincere desire for the happiness
and well-being of others. Metta is without any selectivity or
exclusion. If we select a few people we love and exclude someone we
do not like, this is a lack of understanding of Metta. With the
sublime heart of love, we express care and concern for all beings
through benevolent thoughts, feelings, and words, as well as
through selfless acts of kindness and generosity.
The benefits of practicing this form of meditation are immense. We
develop the valuable skill of concentration. We dissolve the
barriers in our hearts that create separation between ourselves and
others. We transform fear and negativity into courage and kindness,
and we learn to care for and love all beings without exception. The
simple yet powerful radiance of our loving-kindness brings
protection from harmful influences and offers blessings and
beneficence to all it touches. Even if we do not recognize the
immediate effects of our practice, nevertheless, we should always
persevere and never doubt or underestimate the power of
loving-kindness!
The Buddha does not offer us his teachings merely to be studied and
recited. He asks us to follow and practice the instructions so they
become a reality in our awareness, in our actions, and in our ways
of life. It is action, not speculation, it is practice, not theory
that really matters. Therefore, we should not be satisfied with the
mere recitation of the Metta Sutta. We must strive to know and feel
its meaning. We must allow the teaching to suffuse our entire
being, and have the heartfelt intention to bring it into full
practice in our daily lives. Cultivating the noble principles
offered here in the Metta Sutta is the very essence of Buddhist
Dharma.
The
Practice of Loving-kindness
Spiritual development and ultimate awakening are based upon the
firm foundation of loving-kindness for all beings. To help
establish this essential foundation, practice this meditation daily
for at least 15 to 20 minutes, or longer. For ease of recollection,
only the first line of each phrase of this meditation is used. It
is not necessary to repeat the words in parentheses. If you wish,
you may also create your own words for this
practice.
1) Begin by directing loving-kindness to yourself. Love for self
comes first. This is not a selfish love, but a pure love for
oneself that has the power to dissolve anger, hatred, and selfish
tendencies. By overcoming any sense of unworthiness and cultivating
genuine love for yourself, you are able to share this love with
others. Allow the heartfelt radiance of loving-kindness to fill
your being as you recite each phrase of this meditation slowly and
with deep feeling: "May I be happy and peaceful..." and so
forth.
2) Visualize a person for whom you feel love, respect, and
gratitude. Radiate heartfelt loving-kindness to this person,
reciting each phrase of the meditation slowly and with deep
feeling: "May you be happy and peaceful..." and so
forth.
3) Visualize a person toward whom you feel neutral or indifferent.
This may be a stranger or an acquaintance, somebody you have no
particular feelings for or against. Extending loving-kindness to
those toward whom we feel indifferent develops the ability of the
heart to love all beings without exception. Radiate heartfelt
loving-kindness to this person, reciting each phrase of the
meditation slowly: "May you be happy and peaceful..." and so
forth.
4) This may be the most difficult part of the practice. Visualize a
person with whom you experience tension, fear, hurt, conflict,
resentment, anger, or aversion. Radiate heartfelt loving-kindness
to this person as well: "May you be happy and peaceful..." and so
forth.
5) Finally, radiate heartfelt loving-kindness to all living beings
throughout all realms of existence: "May all beings be happy and
peaceful..." and so forth. The Buddha suggests we remain in this
mindful state of loving-kindness at all times and "cherish all
living beings with a boundless heart, radiating kindness over the
entire world.