Wisdom Quarterly translation (from obtuse English) by Mahasi Sayadaw
In the Path of Discrimination (Patisambhidamagga) 528 kinds of universal loving-kindness (metta) are possible. This refers to the manner of developing loving-kindness by those who have achieved meditative absorption through love (metta jhana).
Developing universal love is the duty of monastics, as is doing the recitation for the development of perfection and the wholesome. The Pali chant they recite is the same as the recitation done by rote by the majority of people. This is that chant:
Sabbe satta, sabbe pana, sabbe bhuta, sabbe puggala, sabbe attabhavapariyapana. These five phrases denote that universal love is ultimately sent out equally to all sentient beings without distinction or limitation.
"All creatures, all who breathe, all living beings, all individuals, and all who have the attributes of a being," convey the same meaning: ALL beings. This is love without distinction (anodhisa).
Coincidentally, 528 Hz is a healing frequency
These denote the seven kinds of beings. Loving-kindness is developed in oneself [for oneself first] then radiated to that degree towards these groups individually and together.
In developing universal loving kindness, these two groups are recited or uttered in combination with the four phrases:
- May [they] escape from all dangers;
- may [they] be free from mental distress or misery;
- may [they] be free from bodily suffering or injury;
- may [they] have full accomplishment with complete happiness, that is, look after themselves with ease.
The last phrase is significant and meaningful: All beings are exposed to external dangers. There are also internal dangers such as disease and unpleasant sensations in the material body. For the sake of health and proper livelihood, everything should be done to stay well. Only when one is free of danger and harm and when the necessities of life are adequately obtained can there be happiness physically and mentally.
If the burden of the aggregates (khandha) can be successfully shouldered, all is satisfactory regarding worldly affairs. Then love is undertaken with a benevolent frame of mind: "May one be able to shoulder and sustain the aggregates with happiness."
Love Math
If love is developed towards the five types using the four phrases (5 x 4 = 20), there are 20 anodhisa. If further development of love is practiced, uttering "all females" and so on, comprising seven phrases distinguishing beings "May all be free from danger" and so on, which describe the manner of developing love in four phrases (7 x 4 = 28), it comes to 28 odhisa. Adding the 20 anodhisa and the 28 odhisa totals 48. This is love on Earth in all directions (disa anodhisa).Developing love towards all beings living in the ten directions, "May all beings [in this direction] be free from danger and harm" and so on, would make up a sum of 48:
- East (48)
- West (48)
- North (48)
- South (48)
- Southeast (48)
- Northwest (48)
- Northeast (48)
- Southwest (48)
- Nadir (48)
- Zenith (48)
When added (10 x 48 = 480), it comes to 480. Developing love according to regions of the universe [this world-system and world-systems in all directions] is called disa odhisa. Adding 480 to 48 disa anodhisa results in a total of 528 kinds of love.
- It may seem specious or like splitting hairs, but loving-kindness is recited in this way. It is important to recognize that, as unpopular as this sounds, one is not in fact correctly practicing loving kindness meditation until one achieves "absorption" (non-dual full concentration) through it. That absorption is what is expanded to all beings without distinction. (It is not possible to attain absorption through oneself or through a person who has died, for reasons that have yet to be explained but that suggest our profound interconnectedness). That absorption is what brings the unbelievable benefits of loving kindness so often touted by meditation teachers.
1. May all beings be free from danger, free from mental distress (misery), free from bodily suffering (pain), and be able to care for themselves with ease (shoulder the burden of psychophysical existence)....
2. May all beings who breathe...
After reciting the words "May [they] be free from danger" in the course of developing universal loving kindness, the mind that concentrates and the voice of utterance immediately cease. This cessation of mind and matter is also contemplated. Such contemplation, loving serenity-meditation together with insight-meditation, is being developed in pairs.
Continuous contemplation of serenity and insight in pairs is called yuganaddha vipassana:
3. May all living beings be free from danger, free from mental distress, free from bodily suffering, and be able to look after themselves with ease (or happily shoulder the burden of this existence with physical and mental happiness).
4. May all individuals be free from danger, and so on... More
2. May all beings who breathe...
After reciting the words "May [they] be free from danger" in the course of developing universal loving kindness, the mind that concentrates and the voice of utterance immediately cease. This cessation of mind and matter is also contemplated. Such contemplation, loving serenity-meditation together with insight-meditation, is being developed in pairs.
Continuous contemplation of serenity and insight in pairs is called yuganaddha vipassana:
3. May all living beings be free from danger, free from mental distress, free from bodily suffering, and be able to look after themselves with ease (or happily shoulder the burden of this existence with physical and mental happiness).
4. May all individuals be free from danger, and so on... More
- *Patisambhidamagga: Pali for "path of discrimination" (often simply Patisambhida) is a Buddhist sacred scripture, a component of the ancient Pali Canon preserved in Theravada Buddhism. It is part of the 12th book of the Collection of Sutras called the Khuddaka Nikaya. Tradition ascribes it to the Buddha's chief disciple...