The Path to the Company of Brahmā (The Brahmā-vihāras)

What, Student, is the path to the company of Brahmā (God)?

Here a Monk resides cultivating one quarter of the mind filled with loving‑kindness, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, around, and everywhere, and to all as to himself, he resides filling the all‑encompassing world with a mind filled with loving‑kindness, tremendous, distinguished, measureless, without hostility, and without ill will. When the liberation of mind by loving‑kindness is developed in this way, no limiting action remains there, none persists there.

Just as a vigorous trumpeter could make himself heard without difficulty in the four quarters, so too, when the liberation of mind by loving‑kindness is developed in this way, no limiting action remains there, none persists there.

This is the path to the company of Brahmā (God).

A Monk resides cultivating one quarter with a mind filled with compassion, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, around, and everywhere, and to all as to himself, he resides filling the all‑encompassing world with a mind filled with compassion, tremendous, distinguished, measureless, without hostility, and without ill will. When the liberation of mind by compassion is developed in this way, no limiting action remains there, none persists there.

Just as a vigorous trumpeter could make himself heard without difficulty in the four quarters, so too, when the liberation of mind by compassion is developed in this way, no limiting action remains there, none persists there.

This is the path to the company of Brahmā (God).

A Monk resides cultivating one quarter with a mind filled with sympathetic joy, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, around, and everywhere, and to all as to himself, he resides filling the all‑encompassing world with a mind filled with sympathetic joy, tremendous, distinguished, measureless, without hostility, and without ill will. When the liberation of mind by sympathetic joy is developed in this way, no limiting action remains there, none persists there.

Just as a vigorous trumpeter could make himself heard without difficulty in the four quarters, so too, when the liberation of mind by sympathetic joy is developed in this way, no limiting action remains there, none persists there.

Again, a Monk resides cultivating one quarter with a mind filled with equanimity, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, around, and everywhere, and to all as to himself, he resides filling the all‑encompassing world with a mind filled with equanimity, tremendous, distinguished, measureless, without hostility, and without ill will. When the liberation of mind by equanimity is developed in this way, no limiting action remains there, none persists there.

Just as a vigorous trumpeter could make himself heard without difficulty in the four quarters, so too, when the liberation of mind by equanimity is developed in this way, no limiting action remains there, none persists there.

This too is the path to the company of Brahmā (God).

(Reference: MN 97)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares The Brahmā-vihāras helping Students to understand learning and practicing these is “the path to the company of Brahmā (God)” as part of a rebirth in the heavenly realm, but that is not the goal.

The qualities of mind that are needed to attain a rebirth in the heavenly realm are the same qualities of mind that need to be cultivated to attain Enlightenment. The goal is to attain Enlightenment to eliminate discontentedness and escape The Cycle of Rebirth.

A well developed understanding and practice of The Brahmā-vihāras is an important part of The Path to Enlightenment. Without a well developed practice of The Brahmā-vihāras, a Practitioner would be unable to attain Enlightenment.

Cultivating Healthy Mental States: Loving-kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equanimity

As you learn and implement The Teachings of Gotama Buddha, you will need to cultivate the healthy mental states of loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity to attain Enlightenment.

These four (4) mental states are often referred to as “The Brahmā-vihāras”.

The Four (4) Brahmā-vihāras are:

1. Loving-kindness (Pāli: mettā) is active goodwill towards all beings without judgment. A genuine interest in seeing all beings be well.

   
   

2. Compassion (Pāli: karuṇā) is concern for the misfortunes of others.

   
   

3. Sympathetic joy (Pāli: muditā) is joy for others’ success, even if you did not contribute to it.

   
   

4. Equanimity (Pāli: upekkhā) is mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation; treating everyone impartially.

These mental states can be cultivated through meditation and in your daily life. Your intentions, speech, and actions should emanate from these mental states.

Loving-kindness is the remedy for anger, hatred, ill will, hostility, aggression, and other harsh intentions, speech, and actions. Loving-kindness also helps eliminate judgment of others looking down on them with arrogance or conceit. A Practitioner can train the mind to treat all beings in polite, kind, friendly, and respectful way, without judgment.

Compassion is the remedy for lack of care, indifference, worry, and anxiety.

Sympathetic joy is the remedy for envy, jealousy, and pride.

Equanimity is the remedy for an overactive mind that has restlessness and worry. Equanimity will also assist a Practitioner to eliminate measuring and comparing beings treating all beings equally.

As you experience life, it is important to practice equanimity in all situations. Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper while treating everyone impartially without judgment, are mental states that will help you trust all beings.

One way of cultivating these mental states is through generous deeds, practicing generosity. Through the practice of giving and helping others, you do so with a mind of loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity.

No one can give you a magic potion or secret spell that will cultivate these qualities for the mind. You will need to apply these in practice through your intentions, speech, and actions.

Meditation can help you cultivate these mental states internally so that your intentions, speech, and actions emanate these mental qualities. Give the mind time to gradually cultivate these mental states through meditation and your life practice.

By practicing these mental states and ensuring that your intentions, speech, and actions reflect these mental qualities, you will ensure you are producing healthy and wholesome Kamma at all times.

Another quality of the mind that you need to cultivate is one of generosity. Generosity is to give and help others without any expectation of benefit for yourself. Through giving and helping others, we develop loving-kindness and compassion while also practicing non-attachment to our own possessions or wealth. By sharing, the mind practices generosity and non-attachment, which helps the mind to realize the interconnected nature of all beings through sharing with humanity.

We can also be giving with our time and effort. By helping others through our unselfish acts of giving our time and effort for beneficial causes, we are producing good and healthy benefit to other beings and to humanity while applying effort to eliminate selfishness. The unEnlightened mind will oftentimes pursue its own selfish desires but this can be remedied through giving and sharing.

You should make regular efforts to help others in need through giving with daily efforts to strive in cultivating loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity.

The Path to Enlightenment encompasses many Teachings a Practitioner will need to learn and practice to attain Enlightenment. The Brahmā-vihāras are four mental states that are crucial in the development of the mind. It is not until a Practitioner has fully cultivated The Brahmā-vihāras and practice them daily that the mind will move closer to Enlightenment.