Supplementary Chants | 6-7

6. Caturārakkhā Bhāvanā
Four Protective Meditations

Buddhānussati, mettā ca, asubhaṁ, maraṇassati -
Recollection of the Buddha, friendliness, unattractiveness, and mindfulness of death -

iti imā caturārakkhā bhikkhu bhāveyya sīlavā.
these are the four protective meditations that a virtuous monk should develop.

Anantavitthāraguṇaṁ guṇatonussaraṁ Muniṁ,
Recollecting the Sage’s virtue, and his endless, extensive, good qualities,

bhāveyya buddhimā bhikkhu Buddhānussati-m-ādito.
the wise monk should develop the recollection of the Buddha first.

Buddhānussati
Recollection of the Buddha

Savāsane kilese so eko sabbe nighātiya,
Alone he destroyed all the corruptions, and (bad) predispositions,

ahū susuddhasantāno pūjānaṁ ca sadāraho. [01]
and being continually and fully pure he is worthy of worship at all times.

Sabbakālagate dhamme sabbe sammā sayaṁ Muni
The Sage by himself has, in every way, completely awakened to all things

sabbākārena bujjhitvā, eko sabbaññutaṁ gato. [02]
throughout the whole of time, and alone he has arrived at omniscience.

Vipassanādi vijjāhi sīlādi caraṇehi ca,
Being endowed with great psychic power, good conduct, virtue, and so on,

susamiddhehi sampanno, gaganābhehi nāyako. [03]
true understanding, insight, and so on, the leader was like the shining sky.

Sammāgato subhaṁ ṭhānaṁ amoghavacano ca so,
He who never spoke foolish words, has arrived at that glorious state (Nibbāna),

tividhassāpi lokassa ñātā niravasesato. [04]
he knew the threefold world system (completely) without leaving anything out.

Anekehi guṇoghehi sabbasattuttamo ahū,
Overflowing with countless good qualities he is supreme among all beings,

anekehi upāyehi naradamme damesi ca. [05]
with countless skilful means he tamed those men who could be tamed.

Eko sabbassa lokassa sabbamatthānusāsako,
He alone, to the whole world was the teacher of everything good,

bhāgya-issariyādīnaṁ guṇānaṁ paramo nidhī. [06]
he is the highest treasure, having qualities such as good fortune, mastery, and so on.

Paññāssa sabbadhammesu karuṇā sabbajantusu,
Being wise in regard to all things compassionate to everybody,

attatthānaṁ paratthānaṁ sādhikā guṇajeṭṭhikā. [07]
he exceeded (others) in the best qualities, (knowing) what was for his own and others’ good.

Dayāya pāramī citvā paññāyattānam-uddharī,
Through sympathy he set his mind on the perfections through wisdom he raised himself up,

uddharī sabbadhamme ca, dayāyaññe ca uddharī. [08]
he raised himself above all things, through sympathy he raised others too.

Dissamāno pi tāvassa rūpakāyo acintayo,
Even his visible form-body was beyond thought,

asādhāraṇañāṇaḍḍhe dhammakāye kathā va kā ti? [09]
what can be said of his spiritual body, which was unique, having powerful knowledge?

Mettabhāvanā
The Development of Friendliness Meditation

Attūpamāya sabbesaṁ sattānaṁ sukhakāmataṁ,
In a similar way to oneself, all beings desire happiness,

passitvā kamato mettaṁ sabbasattesu bhāvaye. [01]
having seen that one should gradually develop friendliness towards all beings.

Sukhī bhaveyyaṁ niddukkho, ahaṁ niccaṁ, aham viya
May I constantly be happy, free from suffering, and like myself

hitā ca me sukhī hontu, majjhattā cātha verino. [02]
may my benefactors be happy, neutral persons, and foes also.

Imamhi gāmakkhettamhi, sattā hontu sukhī sadā,
In this village, and its surrounding fields, may beings always be happy,

tato parañ-ca rajjesu, cakkavālesu jantuno. [03]
and those in other countries, and people throughout the universe.

Samantā cakkavālesu sattānantesu pāṇino,
Throughout the entire universe may the countless beings, creatures,

sukhino puggalā bhūtā attabhāvagatā siyuṁ, [04]
persons, and bhūtas, who have attained individuality, be happy,

tathā itthī pumā ceva ariyā anariyā pi ca,
and so too (all) women, men, noble ones, and also ignoble ones,

devā narā apāyaṭṭhā, tathā dasadisāsu cā ti. [05]
gods, humans, and fallen creatures, and likewise (all beings) in the ten directions.

Asubhasaññā
Perception of the Unattractive

Aviññāṇasubhanibhaṁ saviññāṇasubhaṁ imaṁ,
With consciousness it is unattractive, just as it is without (i.e. dead),

kāyaṁ asubhato passaṁ, asubhaṁ bhāvaye yati. [01]
seeing this body as unattractive, a monk should develop (the recollection) of the unattractive.

Vaṇṇasaṇṭhānagandhehi āsayokāsato tathā,
Thus by way of colour, shape, smell, location, and appearance,

paṭikkūlāni kāye me kuṇapāni dvisoḷasa. [02]
the thirty-two (parts) in my body (are like) repulsive corpses.

Patitamhā pi kuṇapā, jegucchaṁ kāyanissitaṁ,
The (parts) that depend on this body are contemptible, as is what falls from a corpse,

ādhāro hi ’suci tassa, kāye tu kuṇape ṭhitaṁ. [03]
for their receptacle is impure, they are situated in this corpse of a body.

Mīlhe kimi va kāyoyaṁ asucimhi samuṭṭhito,
Like a worm in excrement this body arose in what is impure (i.e. the womb),

anto asucisampuṇṇo puṇṇavaccakuṭī viya. [04]
inside it is full of impurities just like a full lavatory.

Asucisandate niccaṁ yathā medakathālikā,
Always the impurities overflow like fat (overflows) from a frying pan,

nānākimikulāvāso, pakkhacandanikā viya. [05]
various kinds of worms dwell in it, the same as in a cesspool.

Gaṇḍabhūto, rogabhūto, vaṇabhūto, samussayo,
This bodily heap is like a boil, like a disease, or like a sore,

atekiccho ti jeguccho pabhinnakuṇapūpamo ti. [06]
it is incurable, contemptible, just like a rotting corpse.

Maraṇānussati
Recollection of Death

Pavātadīpatulyāya, sāyusantatiyā khayaṁ,
By comparing a lamp in a breeze, with the destruction of the life continuum,

parūpamāya sampassaṁ, bhāvaye maraṇassatiṁ. [01]
through seeing oneself as similar to others, one should develop mindfulness of death.

Mahāsampattisampattā yathā sattā matā idha,
Just as people who have attained great good fortune here have died,

tathā ahaṁ marissāmi maranaṁ mama hessati. [02]
in the same way will I die death is (surely) coming to me.

Uppattiyā sahevedaṁ maraṇaṁ āgataṁ sadā,
Indeed death always comes along with that which has arisen,

maraṇatthāya okāsaṁ vadhako viya esati. [03]
it is like a murderer who is seeking an opportunity to kill.

Īsakaṁ anivattaṁ taṁ satataṁ gamanussukaṁ,
This life is slowly, without turning back, continually, eagerly,

jīvitaṁ udayā atthaṁ suriyo viya dhāvati. [04]
going its way, it rises and falls just as the sun runs its course (and sets).

Vijjububbula-ussāva, jalarājī parikkhayaṁ,
(Like) lightning, a bubble, dew, a line drawn on water, life (quickly goes to) destruction,

ghātako varipūtassa sabbatthā pi avāriyo. [05]
like an executioner in regard to his rival (death) can never be constrained.

Suyasatthāmapuññiddhī buddhivuddhī Jinadvayaṁ,
Even the two kinds of Victors, who are famous, strong, meritorious, powerful, and of great intelligence,

ghātesi maraṇaṁ khippaṁ, kā tu mādisake kathā? [06]
were quickly slaughtered by death, so what to say about one like me?

Paccayānañ-ca vekalyā bāhirajjhattupaddavā,
When conditions fail there are internal and external adversities,

marāmoraṁ nimesā pi maramāno anukkhaṇan-ti. [07]
dying at each and every moment I will die in less (time) than a blink of an eye.

Aṭṭhasaṁvegavatthūni
The Eight Bases for Urgency

Bhāvetvā caturārakkhā āvajjeyya anantaraṁ
Having developed these four protections one should consider next

mahāsaṁvegavatthūni, aṭṭha aṭṭhitavīriyo. [01]
the eight great bases for urgency, having non-stop energy.

Jātijarāvyādhicutī apāyā,
Birth, old age, sickness, death, the lower realms,

atīta-appattakavaṭṭadukkhaṁ,
the past and future suffering in the round,

idāni āhāragaveṭṭhidukkhaṁ -
the suffering in having to seek food in the present -

saṁvegavatthūni imāni aṭṭha. [02]
these are the eight bases for urgency.

Pāto ca sāyam-api ceva imaṁ vidhiñño,
If, in the morning and in the evening, one who knows the way,

āsevate satatam-attahitābhilāsi,
who desires his own benefit, practises (these meditations) continually,

pappoti so ti vipulaṁ hatapāripantho,
then after destroying (even) extensive obstacles, that sage

seṭṭhaṁ sukhaṁ muni visiṭṭhamataṁ sukhena cā ti. [03
easily attains great happiness, and the distinction of the deathless.

7. Cakkavāḷamettabhāvanā
Universal Friendliness Meditation

Sabbe sattā, sabbe pāṇā, sabbe bhūtā,
May all creatures, all breathing creatures, all beings,

sabbe puggalā, sabbe attabhāvapariyāpannā,
all persons, all individuals,

sabbā itthiyo, sabbe purisā,
may all women, all men,

sabbe ariyā, sabbe anariyā,
all those who are Noble, all those who are not (yet) Noble,

sabbe devā, sabbe manussā, sabbe vinipātikā,
all gods, all human beings, all who have fallen (into the lower worlds),

averā hontu, abyāpajjā hontu, anīghā hontu,
be free from hatred, free from oppression, free from trouble,

sukhī attānaṁ pariharantu, dukkhā muccantu,
may they take care of themselves and be happy, may they be free from suffering,

yathāladdhasampattito mā vigacchantu kammassakā.
being ones who own their actions, may they not lose whatever prosperity they have gained.

Puratthimāya disāya, pacchimāya disāya,
In in the Eastern direction, in the Western direction,

uttarāya disāya, dakkhiṇāya disāya,
in the Northern direction, in the Southern direction,

puratthimāya anudisāya, pacchimāya anudisāya,
in the South-Eastern direction, in the North-West direction,

uttarāya anudisāya, dakkhiṇāya anudisāya,
in the North-East direction, in the South-West direction,

heṭṭhimāya disāya, uparimāya disāya.
in the lower direction, in the upper direction.

Sabbe sattā, sabbe pāṇā, sabbe bhūtā,
May all creatures, all breathing creatures, all beings,

sabbe puggalā, sabbe attabhāvapariyāpannā,
all persons, all individuals,

sabbā itthiyo, sabbe purisā,
may all women, all men,

sabbe ariyā, sabbe anariyā,
all those who are Noble, all those who are not (yet) Noble,

sabbe devā, sabbe manussā, sabbe vinipātikā,
all gods, all human beings, all who have fallen (into the lower worlds),

averā hontu, abyāpajjā hontu, anīghā hontu,
be free from hatred, free from oppression, free from trouble,

sukhī attānaṁ pariharantu, dukkhā muccantu,
may they take care of themselves and be happy, may they be free from suffering,

yathāladdhasampattito mā vigacchantu kammassakā.
being ones who own their actions, may they not lose whatever prosperity they have gained.

Uddhaṁ yāva bhavaggā ca adho yāva avīcito
From the top of existence down, and from the lowest worlds up,

samantā Cakkavāḷesu, ye sattā pathavī carā,
everywhere in the Universe, whatever beings live on the earth,

abyāpajjā niverā ca niddukkhā cānupaddavā.
(may they be) free from oppression, free from hatred, free from suffering, and free from danger.

Uddhaṁ yāva bhavaggā ca adho yāva avīcito
From the top of existence down, and from the lowest worlds up,

samantā Cakkavāḷesu, ye sattā udake carā,
everywhere in the Universe, whatever beings live in the water,

abyāpajjā niverā ca niddukkhā cānupaddavā.
(may they be) free from oppression, free from hatred, free from suffering, and free from danger.

Uddhaṁ yāva bhavaggā ca adho yāva avīcito
From the top of existence down, and from the lowest worlds up,

samantā Cakkavāḷesu, ye sattā ākāse carā,
everywhere in the Universe, whatever beings live in the sky,

abyāpajjā niverā ca niddukkhā cānupaddavā.
(may they be) free from oppression, free from hatred, free from suffering, and free from danger.

Yaṁ pattaṁ kusalaṁ, tassa ānubhāvena pāṇino,
I have attained what is wholesome, by the power of this, may all beings,

sabbe Saddhammarājassa ñatvā Dhammaṁ, sukhāvahaṁ,
having understood the King of the True Dhamma’s Doctrine, be led to happiness,

pāpuṇantu visuddhāya, sukhāya paṭipattiyā,
attain to purity, practise comfortably,

asokam-anupāyāsaṁ, Nibbānasukham-uttamaṁ.
be without grief, without continuing despair, (and attain) the supreme happiness of Emancipation.

Ciraṁ tiṭṭhatu Saddhammo, Dhamme hontu sagāravā,
May the True Dhamma last long, may all beings have respect for the Dhamma,

sabbe pi sattā, kālena sammā devo pavassatu.
may the (rain)-gods rain down at the right time.

Yathā rakkhiṁsu porāṇā Surājāno, tathevimaṁ
Just like the Good Kings of old gave protection, likewise

Rājā rakkhatu dhammena attano va pajaṁ pajaṁ.
may the (present) King protect the people righteously like (he protects) himself.

Imāya Dhammānudhammapaṭipattiyā Buddhaṁ pūjemi,
By this practice in conformity with the Dhamma I worship the Buddha,

imāya Dhammānudhammapaṭipattiyā Dhammaṁ pūjemi,
by this practice in conformity with the Dhamma I worship the Dhamma,

imāya Dhammānudhammapaṭipattiyā Saṅghaṁ pūjemi,
by this practice in conformity with the Dhamma I worship the Saṅgha,

addhā imāya paṭipadāya jātijarābyādhimaraṇamhā parimuccisāmi.
by this practice may I be freed from birth, old age, sickness and death.

Idaṁ me puññaṁ āsavakkhayāvahaṁ hotu.
May my merit bring about the destruction of the pollutants.

Idaṁ me puññaṁ Nibbānassa paccayo hotu.
May my merit be a condition for (gaining) Emacipation.

Mama puññabhāgaṁ sabbasattānaṁ bhājemi,
I share my portion of merits with all beings,

te sabbe me samaṁ puññabhāgaṁ labhantu.
may all of them share my portion of merits evenly.