what is metta?

Universal Loving Kindness (Loving Friendliness), or "metta" (in Pali)

by Venerable Gunaratana Mahather

May all those who are imprisoned legally or illegally,
all who are in police custody anywhere in the world,
meet with peace and happiness. May they be free from
greed, anger, aversion, hatred, jealousy, and fear.
Let their bodies and minds be filled with thoughts of
loving friendliness. Let the peace and tranquillity
of loving kindness pervade their entire bodies and
minds.

May all who are in hospitals suffering from numerous
sicknesses meet with peace and happiness. May they be
free from pain, afflictions, depression,
disappointment, anxiety, and fear. Let these thoughts
of loving friendliness embrace all of them, envelop
them. Let their minds and bodies be filled with the
thought of loving kindness.

May all mothers who are in pain delivering babies meet
with peace and happiness. May they have the patience,
courage, understanding, and determination to meet and
overcome the inevitable difficulties, problems, and
failures in life. May they be well, happy, and
peaceful.

May all single parents taking care of their children
meet with peace and happiness. May they have the
patience, courage, understanding, and determination to
meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties,
problems, and failures in life. May they be well,
happy, and peaceful.

May all children abused by adults in numerous ways
meet with peace and happiness. May they be filled
with thoughts of loving kindness, compassion,
appreciative joy, and equanimity. May they be gentle.
May they be relaxed. May their hearts become soft.
May their words be pleasing to others. May they be
free from fear, tension, anxiety, worry, and
restlessness.

May all rulers be gentle, kind, generous, and
compassionate. May they have understanding of the
oppressed, the underprivileged, the discriminated
against, and the poverty-stricken. May their hearts
melt at the suffering of their unfortunate citizens.
Let these thoughts of loving friendliness embrace
them, envelop them. Let every cell, every drop of
blood, every atom, every molecule of their entire
bodies and minds be charged with thoughts of kindness.
Let the peace and tranquillity of loving friendliness
pervade their entire being.

May the oppressed and underprivileged, the
poverty-stricken and those discriminated against, meet
with peace and happiness. May they be free from pain,
afflictions, depression, disappointment, anxiety, and
fear. May all of them in all directions all around
the universe, be well, happy, and at peace. May they
have the patience, courage, understanding, and
determination to meet and overcome the inevitable
difficulties, problems, and failures in life. May
these thoughts of loving friendliness embrace all of
them, envelop them. May their minds and bodies be
filled with thoughts of loving kindness.

May all beings everywhere of every shape and form,
with two legs, four legs, many legs, or no legs, born
or coming to birth, in this realm or the next, have
happy minds. May no one deceive another nor despise
anyone anywhere. May no one wish harm to another.
Toward all living beings, may I cultivate a boundless
heart, above, below, and all around, unobstructed,
without hatred or resentment. May all beings be
released from suffering and attain perfect peace.