Brahma vihara verses

May all beings be happy
and be joined with the causes of happiness.
May all beings be free from suffering
and the cause of suffering.
May all beings experience the great joy, free of sorrow,
and be joined with the causes of joy.

May I find equanimity within my heart
so that I can meet
both joy and pain alike,
with insight into the nature of existence.

May I be steady in my metta (love),
always ready to see
with the kind eyes of the heart.
May I not close down
or fall prey to irritation and anger.

May I be generous
with my compassion
and reach out to those
who experiences difficulty.
May I not turn away
out of fear or comfort.

May I be steady in taking delight
in the joy of others
and not hold anything back.
May I not get entwined
in the miserly and mean clothes of envy.

May I have the courage to realise
the roots of joy, pain and happiness,
and learn to meet all
with the same warm and clear equanimity.
May I not withdraw
and become indifferent to others.
May I have the courage
to meet (embrace) life in its fullness,
and find the insight that sets free.

(Composed and translated by Viryabodhi, 23 February 2015, the first few verses are based on traditional Tibetan verses, the rest are composed by myself. On a solitary retreat in 2006 I was meditating and reflecting on my experience, and what I try to do in the metta-bhavana practice. These verses arose quite naturally, during and after the meditation, as a result.)

Here is also an Estonian version.