In Buddha’s Words is a new series of “quotable quotes” from the Buddha — but cited with their source. Many Buddha Quotes and inspirational quotes online are “made up” or not verified with sutra/sutta references. We will pick the best of the “verifiable” inspirational quotes and cite the actual source — in most cases with a full English translation of the original text.
Daily Series
We will run an excerpt and full sutra/sutta teachings, daily where possible, in Buddha Weekly. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the latest by email every Tuesday.
What better topic to begin the series than Metta, or Loving Kindness, fundamental teaching of the Buddha? This quote — found online on an inspirational site — is paraphrased from the Metta Sutta Sutta-nipata, vv 143-152, quoted below.

Like a caring mother
In the quote found online — which was a reasonable translation, this was quoted as:
“Like a caring mother holding and guarding the life of her only child, so with a boundless heart of loving-kindness, hold yourself and all beings as your beloved children.”
“And just as might a mother with her life
Protect the son that was her only child,
So let him then for every living thing
Maintain unbounded consciousness in being”

Metta Sutta, from the Sutta-nipata, vv. 143-152
(Spoken by the Buddha)
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Lee Kane
Author | Buddha Weekly
Lee Kane is the editor of Buddha Weekly, since 2007. His main focuses as a writer are mindfulness techniques, meditation, Dharma and Sutra commentaries, Buddhist practices, international perspectives and traditions, Vajrayana, Mahayana, Zen. He also covers various events.
Lee also contributes as a writer to various other online magazines and blogs.

