What Better Way Could There Be?

Bhavatu Sabba Mangalam:

An ancient Buddhist dictum.

‘May all beings be happy, well’:

This is what these words tell,

These words like a chant sung

In the most ancient Pali tongue.

Perhaps one could possibly say

That what these words convey

Is a sort of summary, in short,

Of what the Great Buddha taught.

Centuries after He left, even today

Millions carry on in this His way

By wishing that all beings be

Well, at peace and happy.

Loving-kindness, or metta they call,

They seek should universally befall,

All beings, wherever they may be,

Wishing them all blessed felicity,

Wishing, too, that they be cured

Of all sufferings they’ve endured,

Suffering of the body and mind,

Suffering, too, of all other kind.

To humans of every creed and religion,

Caste, ethnicity, colour and region

Their metta circle widely they expand,

Extending it to over all sea and land,

And going beyond the human race,

All creatures there are they embrace,

From the biggest of these to the least,

Sending metta to tree, bird and beast,

Wishing that all living beings may

In peace and wellness always stay.

From meditative silence deep inside

Metta they send out far and wide,

To all sentient beings everywhere,

Loving thoughts for their welfare.

Each thought actually has, in fact,

Its own major consequent impact,

So, a thought that’s with metta sent,

Being a thought with a good intent,

Positively impacts on all those who

Such a noble thought is directed to.

In this simple, most beautiful way

Each of us folks can well each day

Play a role big, certainly not small,

In promoting the wellbeing of all,

Sending metta to all beings there are,

In the universe, be they close or far.

Now, what better way could there be

For universal peace and harmony?

(This poem was written today, 12th May, 2025, on the occasion of Vesak or Buddha Jayanti, a day that is believed to mark three significant occasions in the life of the Lord Buddha—the day He said to have been born, to have attained Enlightenment (Nibbana) and also to have passed away (Mahaparinibbana), and which, therefore, may be considered to be a thrice-blessed day.)