I have, for quite some time, been in the habit of reciting the first metta phrase as “May I be happy and peaceful,” which is not borne out by the Pali aham sukhito homi as far as I can tell but has always seemed somehow right to me nonetheless. I am no Pali scholar (I barely know more than a few words) but I believe the Pali for peace is santi and I can only thing of one place off hand where I have heard it used in the context of metta bhavana. This stands in marked contrast to the ubiquitous sukho and its various declensions. It’s no surprise then that I have found myself questioning my use of the phrase in metta practice despite the feelings of calm and, well, peace it evokes in my heart.
Still, this morning as I struggled to rein in the body and mind (it didn’t help to hear the constant scratching of mice in the floors) I realized that what I needed was an attitude of non-contention, compassion and acceptance for what was happeninng more so than brute and uncompromising force. This is, perhaps, precisely what I intend when I repeat “May I be at peace” and why the words have so much power; in short, I use the stick a little more liberally than I would like to admit even when I know the carrot is far more effective.
May I be at peace and work with whatever arises from a heart of compassion. May I accept the challenges and limitations of the moment and learn the true meaning of samma vayamo.
Cattāri Brahmavihārā 
I start my morning with a similar thought, to focus my mind on the days events. May I be peaceful and happy today, and may I bring these gifts to all I meet. I find it helps me to be more understanding of others, and accept them as they are.
By: keiththegreen on 05/14/2013
at 3:34 pm