Cattāri Brahmavihārā

For reasons that I don’t completely understand I have long been operating under the assumption that the Pali terms and phrases for each of the four brahmaviharas were the best form to use when reflecting and contemplating these states. And although each term does carry a certain emotive value it is now and has been for some time clear that the words in Pali alone were not adequate to open the heart to these abidings. So, this morning, as I prepared to sit I took a moment to reflect on why I was cultivating the brahmaviharas and what I hoped to achieve therefrom. In essence, my aim has been to open my heart to the people and events of my life rather than to attempt to enter the jhanas so, at least in my limited and provisional understanding, it seems to make sense to engage the divine abodes vis-a-vis a reflective, insight-based technique rather than one suited to the development of one-pointedness.

I hope all of the foregoing makes sense and I apologize for the verbosity but I’m still working this out in my head. It seems to me, however, that the proof is in the pudding despite my inability to convey my understanding of exactly how this takes place. What I know is this: by first looking for the feeling of love and gentleness and then using it along (in English) seemed best suited to carry its emotional import I was able to work through all four brahmaviharas in a way that both brighten my mind and has left a wholesome imprint upon the stream of consciousness even now.

May we all awaken to our lives with mindfulness and clear comprehension of all that we do.