Illustration of “sabbe satta sukhi hontu” by Jayarava of Visible Mantra
Sabbe sattā sukhi hontu is a Pali phrase meaning “May all beings be happy”.
It’s not, properly speaking, a mantra, but is a chant that is used in exactly the same way as a mantra.
Unlike most mantras, it has a definite grammatical meaning.
Sabbe = each, every, or all
Sattā = living beings, creatures, sentient and rational beings, people
Sukhi = happy
Hontu = may they be
The chant has an attractive tune (there’s a recording below), and it’s lovely to chant this at the end of a period of the metta bhavana (development of lovingkindness) practice. It makes a beautiful group chant as well.
Outside of formal meditation, you can chant this mantra while walking, driving, or while engaged in any other such activity. It can help if you keep your attention centered on your heart, and also if you imagine that light is flowing from your heart and touching other people.
If you’re interested in the English meaning of the very similar phrase, sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta, it also translates as “May all beings be happy.” This particular phrase is found in the famous Metta Sutta.
There are many other Pali chants that are similar and that are also closely related to the practice of lovingkindness, yet none seem to be as common as sabbe satta sukhi hontu, which really expresses the essence of lovingkindness.
Variants include:
Click below to listen to an MP3 version:
Sabbe satta sukhi hontu is the key of the development of lovingkindness and compassion. Although most religions teach us to love our neighbors and even our enemies, it’s often hard to know exactly how to do that. Buddhism, being a very practical tradition, offers a number of practices, including the development of lovingkindness (metta bhavana), and the development of compassion (karuna bhavana) meditations. Each of these practices helps us to develop a healthier and more loving relationship to oneself and others.
Metta is often translated as love as well as lovingkindness, and the essence of love in this sense is that we recognize that all beings, just like us, wish to experience happiness and do not wish to experience suffering. Metta is an empathetic sense of caring for others’ well-being. It’s for that reason that sabbe satta sukhi hontu (“may all beings be happy”) is considered to express the heart of the lovingkindness practice.
In cultivating lovingkindness we commonly repeat phrases such as “May all beings be well; May all beings be happy; May all beings be free from suffering.” The accumulated effect of those words, when they are mindfully repeated, is to create a genuine sense of caring.
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I love this mantra - even if it isn't a true mantra. It creates a loving, compassionate energy when sung.....
thank you !
This mantra iswonderful- i am knew to buddhism and just trying to find any information i can.
A mantra, in its broadest sense, is simply a phrase or composition to be chanted, so this phrase qualifies from that point of view. It also invokes an aspect of the Awakened mind - the desire for the welfare of all beings - and so again seems as much a mantra as anything else.
Cheers
Jayarava
visiblemantra.org
I have found this mantra to be ideal for walking meditation. The cadence can be varied to match walking speed.
I recite this mantra three times after meditation and after reciting the Heart Sutra.
I'm relatively new to Buddhism and I find it so liberating. I'm most into Zen. Especially for its "Ehi Passiko" (come and see for yourself) attitude. Regards, Dan.
i have been practicing buddhism for 6 months now and found the mantra very relaxing. thank you. yours mike
i learned this from Ram Dass; he did this at the end of some of his talks. his version is: "May all beings everywhere be free from suffering; may all beings everywhere be peaceful; may all beings everywhere be happy; may all beings everywhere be free." it's a great way to end a meditation session or a teaching. Namaste. carol
I also found that this mantra gives much power to change the mind and create happiness in our life.
I have this mantra posted for all who visit my studio. People seem to really enjoy it.
when i heard for the first time this words i didn't know what it means but i felt happy.