Karaniya

Karaniya is best known in the form of the Karaniya Metta Sutta, a Buddhist discourse centered on loving-kindness (metta). The term karaniya itself comes from Pali and is commonly understood as “to be done” or “that which should be performed,” signaling a set of practices to be carried out by the practitioner. In its verses, the sutta presents a method for developing a steady, benevolent mindset toward all beings and for living with ethical restraint and mental clarity.

Content and themes of the sutta focus on cultivating universal goodwill. It guides the reader or listener to generate metta first for oneself, then for a series of other beings, and finally for all sentient beings without exception. The text emphasizes non-harm, generosity, patience, and mindfulness, while promoting the Brahma-viharas—loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity—as foundational mental states. The practice is portrayed as a daily discipline that supports ethical living and mental balance.

Canonical position and influence: the Karaniya Metta Sutta is part of the Pali Canon, typically associated with the Sutta Nipata in the Khuddaka Nikaya. Traditionally attributed to the Buddha, it has become a cornerstone in Theravada practice and is widely studied, recited, and used in meditation across Buddhist traditions. The sutta has been translated into numerous languages, with many modern translations aiming to preserve its tone of accessible, practical wisdom for cultivating goodwill toward all beings.