are there any other substantially different ways to translate
sabb-atta-tāya
than as (to) all-(as to)-oneself, which is nearly identical wording that b.bodhi uses?
i ask this because i still have suspicions about the theory that karaniya metta’s sutta part about doing metta “as a mother would protect her only child”. thanissaro and others say it means one shoudl treat the metta-practice/attainment like the child in the simile, not that one should regard all beings in the world with teh love of one’s child. i think the sabb-atta-taya in the standard metta formula could support the idea that one regard everyone as a mother loves her only child.
standard metta formula below, occurs frequently in the suttas. other 3 brahmaviharas use the same exact formula, so it’s interesting to note that the part at the end of that passage referencing abyapada would neatly fit all 4 brahmaviharas under samma samkappo.
mettā-sahagatena cetasā(with) good-will-endowed mind,
ekaṃ disaṃ pharitvā(in) one direction pervade,
viharatha,abide [like this].
tathā dutiyaṃ,likewise (the) second [quarter],
tathā tatiyaṃ,likewise (the) third [quarter],
tathā catutthaṃ;likewise (the) fourth [quarter],
iti uddham-adhoThus above,-below,
tiriyaṃ sabbadhiacross, everywhere,
sabb-atta-tāya(to) all-(as to)-oneself,
sabbāvantaṃ lokaṃ(to the) entire world
mettā-sahagatena cetasā(with) good-will-endowed mind,
vipulena mahaggatenavast, exalted,
appamāṇena a-verenameasureless, without-hostility,
abyāpajjena pharitvāwithout ill will, pervade.
viharatha,abide [like this].