"Discourse On Love", translated by Thich Nhat Hanh, read by Brother Duc Khiem.

In this discourse, Thay gives us the opportunity to look at the practice of love and helps us find ways to tend to our own happiness and stability and the happiness and stability of those around us by doing everything we do to express love. First, he says, it is important that we find peace and joy, making sure we are not carried away by the emotions and the opinions of the majority; that we are straightforward, saying what we mean by using the art of loving speech; that we learn to be humble, to live simply. Then we have to have as our first wish that everyone is happy and safe, meaning that every hope we have will bring us closer to the real action. We also don’t want to wish harm on anyone and protect the members of our own species and of other species from being harmed and killed, and we learn to cultivate boundless love “to all living beings in the entire cosmos”. To cultivate mindfulness of love means every action we undertake is motivated by love and so that we can be in the presence of love everywhere, every moment of our days.

*

“He or she who wants to attain peace should practice being upright, humble, and capable of using loving speech. He or she will know how to live simply and happily, with senses calmed, without being covetous and carried away by the emotions of the majority. Let him or her not do anything that will be disapproved of by the wise ones.

(And this is what he or she contemplates:)

May everyone be happy and safe, and may all hearts be filled with joy.

May all beings live in security and in peace — beings who are frail or strong, tall or short, big or small, invisible or visible, near or faraway, already born, or yet to be born. May all of them dwell in perfect tranquillity.

Let no one do harm to anyone. Let no one put the life of anyone in danger. Let no one, out of anger or ill will, wish anyone any harm.

Just as a mother loves and protects her only child at the risk of her own life, cultivate boundless love to offer to all living beings in the entire cosmos. Let our boundless love pervade the whole universe, above, below, and across. Our love will know no obstacles. Our heart will be absolutely free from hatred and enmity. Whether standing or walking, sitting or lying, as long as we are awake, we should maintain this mindfulness of love in our own heart. This is the noblest way of living.

Free from wrong views, greed, and sensual desires, living in beauty and realizing Perfect Understanding, those who practice boundless love will certainly transcend birth and death.

By the firm determination of this truth, may you ever be well.”

Metta Sutta, Sutta Nipata 1.8