The 4 Brahmaviharas deliver mind into a Higher State!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
The Noble Disciple, Bhikkhus &
friends, freed from greed and grudge,
unconfused, alert, attentive and clearly comprehending, with mind full
of
kind
friendliness ... of
compassionate pity ... of
altruistic joy ... and of
imperturbable equanimity,
pervades
first one direction, then the second,
then the 3rd one, then the 4th one, just as above, so
below, & all around!
Thus sympathetic with all, embracing all, he
pervades
the whole world, &
the entire universe with a vast mind, refined, infinite, freed from all hate
and any ill-will. And he understands: Formerly my mind was limited and
undeveloped. Now,
however, is my mind unlimited and developed, and
no
limited behaviour based on a narrow intention will remain here or persist!
What do you think, Bhikkhus & friends: If a boy from his early childhood
develops kind friendliness, compassionate pity, altruistic
joy, and quite
imperturbable equanimity, will he then still be able to do bad evil deeds?
No, Venerable
One...
But, if he no longer does bad deeds, will suffering then still attack him?
Certainly not. Venerable One.
How should anyone, doing no evil actions,
still be
attacked by suffering!
Therefore should
kind friendliness .. compassionate pity .. altruistic joy
& imperturbable equanimity be developed, by all men, women & beings!
No man
or woman, on leaving this life, can keep this body. Any mortal
has only his mind as base, mediator, creator, controller and protector!
The Bhikkhu, however, knows: Whatever formerly I have done of bad
deeds with this material body, all that I still have to atone for here, and
after that, then
nothing of it will follow me. So developed, the release of
the mind by
kind
friendliness, by
compassionate pity,
by
altruistic joy ...
&
by
imperturbable equanimity,
leads to Never-Return, unless the wise monk
already during this life penetrates to
a
higher deliverance than that!
Source: The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha.
Anguttara Nikāya 10:208
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm
More on the 3rd Noble State:
Non-Return (Anāgāmi)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/anagami.htm
More these 4 Infinitely Divine States
(Appamaññā
Brahma-Vihāra):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/brahma_vihaara.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_to_Cure_Anger_and_Irritation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Selfless_Friendship_is_Sweetest.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/All-Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Anger_and_Irritation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Subduing_Irritation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The-Effective_Saw.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/United_in_Harmony.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Good_Friend.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Good-Will_Again.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Hot_Hostile_Hate.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kalyanamitta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
