11 benefits of cultivating loving-kindness from sleeping with ease to dying unconfused to going to the Brahma world.

AN 11.15 Mettā sutta - Loving-Kindness

“Mettāya, bhikkhave, cetovimuttiyā āsevitāya bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya ekādasānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā.

“Bhikkhus, when release of mind by |loving-kindness::goodwill, friendliness, benevolence [metta]| is practiced, |cultivated::developed [bhāvita]|, practiced often, made a vehicle, made a basis, firmly established, consolidated, and |resolutely undertaken::fully engaged with, energetically taken up [susamāraddha]|, eleven benefits can be expected.

Katame ekādasa?

Which eleven?

1.) Sukhaṁ supati,

1.) One sleeps with ease,

2.) sukhaṁ paṭibujjhati,

2.) One wakes up with ease,

3.) na pāpakaṁ supinaṁ passati,

3.) One does not see evil dreams,

4.) manussānaṁ piyo hoti,

4.) One is dear to human beings,

5.) amanussānaṁ piyo hoti,

5.) One is dear to non-human beings,

6.) devatā rakkhanti,

6.) Deities protect one,

7.) nāssa aggi visaṁ satthaṁ kamati,

7.) Fire, poison, and weapons cannot harm one,

8.) tuvaṭaṁ cittaṁ samādhiyati,

8.) One’s mind becomes collected quickly,

9.) mukhavaṇṇo vippasīdati,

9.) One’s facial complexion becomes clear,

10.) asammūḷho kālaṁ karoti,

10.) One dies unconfused, and

11.) uttari appaṭivijjhanto brahmalokūpago hoti.

11.) If one does not penetrate further, one goes to the Brahma world.

Mettāya, bhikkhave, cetovimuttiyā āsevitāya bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya ime ekādasānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā”ti.

Bhikkhus, when release of mind by loving-kindness is practiced, cultivated, practiced often, made a vehicle, made a basis, firmly established, consolidated, and resolutely undertaken, these eleven benefits can be expected.”

Topics & Qualities:

Loving Kindness

Loving Kindness

The practice of developing boundless love and goodwill toward all beings, starting with oneself and extending outward.

Also known as: metta practice, unconditional love, goodwill meditation, goodwill, benevolence, kindness, friendliness
Pāli: mettā, metta, abyāpāda, abyāpajja
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Non-harm

Non-harm

The intention of harmlessness, rooted in the understanding that all beings tremble at violence and fear death.

Also known as: non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness, non-killing, non-hurting
Pāli: avihiṃsā, ahiṁsa
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Last updated on July 11, 2026