Turtle

"Imagine that the whole earth was covered with water, and a man was to throw a yoke with a hole in it into the water. Blown by the wind, that yoke would drift north, south, east and west. Now, suppose that once in hundred years a blind turtle would rise to the surface. What do you think? Would that turtle put his head through the hole in the yoke as he rose to the surface once in a hundred years?"

"It is unlikely Lord."

"Well, it is just as unlikely that one will be born as a human being; it is just unlikely that a Tathagata, a Noble One, a fully enlightened Buddha should arise in the world; and it is just as unlikely that the Dhamma and discipline of the Tathagata should be taught. But now you have been born as a human being, a Tathagata has arisen and the Dhamma has been taught. Therefore, strive to realize the Four Noble Truths."

Friday, November 04, 2011

Metta Sutta

I learned this version at the retreat last weekend. Then I remember I have a set of files for chanting from The Buddhist Society of Western Australia, and Metta Sutta is part of the files!

As I could not find a proper text online with the pronounciation, I've typed it out as below. I especially like the part

Radiating \kindness over /the en\ti/re world:
Spreading upwards to the \skies,
And /down/wards /to \the depths;

Enjoy...


Notes: / signifies lowering the pitch, \ signifies raising the pitch, indicates a slight emphasis.

This is what should /be done
By one /who is \skilled in /good-ness,
And who knows the /path of peace:

Let them /be able and \upright,
/Straight-forward and gen\tle /in speech.
Humble and not con/cei-ted,
/Con-tented and \ea-sily /sa-tisfied.

Not burden with /du-ties and frugal \in /their ways.
Peaceful and calm, /and wise and \skil-ful,
/Not proud and de\man-ding in /nature.

Let them not /do the \slight/est thing
That /the wise would la\ter /re-prove.

Wishing: In gladness /and in \safety,
May /all beings \be /happy.
Whatever li/ving beings there /may be;
Whether /they are \weak /or strong, o/mit-ting none,
The great or the /might-y,
medium, \short /or small,
The seen and the /un-seen,
Those living near and \far /a-way,
Those born and /to \be born
May /all beings \be /happy.

Let none de/ceive /a/no-ther,
Or /despise a/ny being in \a/ny state.
Let none through anger or /ill-will
Wish \harm upon a/no-ther.

Even as /a mother protects with /her life
Her child, her /on\ly child,
So with a \boundless heart
Should /one cherish all \li/ving beings;
Radiating \kindness over /the en\ti/re world:
Spreading upwards to the \skies,
And /down/wards /to \the depths;
Outwards and un/bound-ed,
Freed from \ha\tred and /ill -will.

Whether standing or /walk-ing, seated or \ly/ing down
Free from /drow-siness,
One should /sus-tain this /re-col\lec-tion.

This is said /to be /the sub\lime a/bi-ding.

By not holding to /false views,
/The pure \heart/ed one,
having clarity of /vi-sion,
Being freed /from all \sense desires
Is not \born \a-gain in/to this world.




~ttg~
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