September a year ago, a dear Dharma sister opened an anti-racism meeting with the following metta meditation.

May all beings everywhere, plagued by sufferings of body and mind, obtain an ocean of happiness and joy.
May no living creature suffer, commit evil, or be weighed down by oppression.
May the frightened cease to be afraid, and those bound be freed.
May the powerless find power, and may people be committed to benefiting each other.

(Attributed to the Dalai Lama)

I was (and still am) deeply nourished by these beautiful words. Yet I questioned whether they are truly the Dalai Lama’s. Searching the Web led me to a longer version, which was attributed to Shantideva. (At the time I didn’t make a link so I can’t link to the original source.)

May all beings everywhere, Plagued by sufferings of body and mind, Obtain an ocean of happiness and joy By virtue of my merits.

May no living creature suffer, Commit evil or ever fall ill. May no one be afraid or belittled, With a mind weighed down by depression.

May the blind see forms, And the deaf hear sounds. May those whose bodies are worn with toil
Be restored on finding repose.

May the naked find clothing, The hungry find food.

May the thirsty find water And delicious drinks.

May the poor find wealth, Those weak with sorrow find joy. May the forlorn find hope, Constant happiness and prosperity.

May there be timely rains And bountiful harvests. May all medicines be effective And wholesome prayers bear fruit.

May all who are sick and ill Quickly be freed from ailments. Whatever diseases in the world, May they never occur again.

May the frightened cease to be afraid And those bound be freed. May the powerless find power And may people think of benefiting each other.

~ Precept Prayer Shantideva revised by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama

In Google Books I found an even more expanded version (though, once again, I can’t find the link a year later).

Dedication Verses from Shantideva’s Bodhicharayavatara

May all beings everywhere,
Plagued by sufferings of body and mind
Obtain an ocean of happiness and joy
By virtue of my merits.

May no living creature suffer,
Commit evil, or ever fall ill.
May no one be afraid or belittled,
With a mind weighed down by depression.

May the blind see forms
And the deaf hear sounds.
May those whose bodies are worn with toil
Be restored on finding repose.

May the naked find clothing,
The hungry find food;
May the thirsty find water
And delicious drinks.

May the poor find wealth,
Those weak with sorrow find joy;
May the forlorn find hope,
Constant happiness, and prosperity.

May there be timely rains
And bountiful harvests.
May all medicines be effective
And wholesome prayers bear fruit.

May all who are sick and ill
Quickly be freed from their ailments.
Whatever diseases there are in the world,
May they never occur again.

May the frightened cease to be afraid
And those bound be freed.
May the powerless find power,
And may people think of benefiting each other.

As long as space remains,
As long as sentient beings remain,
Until then my I too remain
To dispel the miseries of the world.

~ Essential Buddhist Prayers Vol. I. eBook. Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Unable to track down a definitive source, I’m reminded that what matters is the spirit behind the words. And so I pass them along to others, particularly those dedicated to serving the disabled, the weary, the hungry, the poor, the forlorn, the sick, the frightened, the powerless.