Metta for Oneself

"You can search the whole universe and not find a single being more worthy of love than yourself.

Since each and every person is so precious to themselves, let the self-respecting harm no other being."

- The Buddha

Buddha's Teaching on the Eleven Benefits of Metta

"One sleeps easily,

wakes easily,

dreams no evil dreams.

One is dear to human beings,

dear to non-human beings.

The devas protect one.

Neither fire, poison, nor weapons can touch one.

One's mind gains concentration quickly.

One's complexion is bright.

One dies unconfused and —

if penetrating no higher — is headed for the Brahma worlds.

Metta Sutta (The Buddha's Words on Loving Kindness)

This is what should be done 

By one who is skilled in goodness,

And who knows the path of peace:

Let them be able and upright,

Straightforward and gentle in speech,

Humble and not conceited,

Contented and easily satisfied,

Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.

Peaceful and calm and wise and skillful,

Not proud or demanding in nature.

Let them not do the slightest thing

That the wise would later reprove.

Wishing: In gladness and in safety,

May all beings be at ease.

Whatever living beings there may be;

Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,

The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,

The seen and the unseen,

Those living near and far away,

Those born and to-be-born —

May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,

Or despise any being in any state.

Let none through anger or ill-will

Wish harm upon another.

Even as a mother protects with her life

Her child, her only child,

So with a boundless heart

Should one cherish all living beings;

Radiating kindness over the entire world:

Spreading upwards to the skies,

And downwards to the depths;

Outwards and unbounded,

Freed from hatred and ill-will.

Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down

Free from drowsiness,

One should sustain this recollection.

This is said to be the sublime abiding.

By not holding to fixed views,

The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,

Being freed from all sense desires, Is not born again into this world.

(translated from the Pali by The Amaravati Sangha)