The Four Divine Abodes

The brahmin student Subha, Todeyya’s son, said to the Blessed One: “Master Gotama, I have heard that the ascetic Gotama knows the path to the company of Brahmā.”

 

“What do you think, student? Is the village of Naḷakāra near here, not far from here?”

 

“Yes, sir, the village of Naḷakāra is near here, not far from here.”

 

“What do you think, student? Suppose there was a man born and raised in the village of Naḷakāra, and as soon as he had left Naḷakāra they asked him about the path to the village. Would that man be slow or hesitant in answering?”

 

“No, Master Gotama. Why is that? Because that man has been born and raised in Naḷakāra, and is well acquainted with all the paths to the village.”

 

“Still, a man born and raised in the village of Naḷakāra might be slow or hesitant in answering when asked about the path to the village, but a Tathāgata, when asked about the brahma world or the way leading to the brahma world, would never be slow or hesitant in answering. I understand Brahmā, and I understand the brahma world, and I understand the way leading to the brahma world, and I understand how one should practice to be reborn in the brahma world.” 23.

 

“Master Gotama, I have heard that the ascetic Gotama teaches the path to the company of Brahmā. It would be good if Master Gotama would teach me the path to the company of Brahmā.”

 

“Then, student, listen and attend closely to what I shall say.”

 

“Yes, sir,” he replied.

 

The Blessed One said this: 24. “What, student, is the path to the company of Brahmā? Here a monk dwells pervading one quarter with a mind imbued 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 dwells pervading the all-encompassing world with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, abundant, exalted, immeasurable, 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.21 This is the path to the company of Brahmā. 25–27.

 

Again, a monk dwells pervading one quarter with a mind imbued with compassion …

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with a mind imbued with altruistic joy …

 

with a mind imbued with equanimity, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, around, and everywhere, and to all as to himself, he dwells pervading the all-encompassing world with a mind imbued with equanimity, abundant, exalted, immeasurable, 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.” (from MN 99: Subha Sutta; II 206–8)