Cattāri Brahmavihārā

The fragment that I’ve used as the title for this post is perhaps one of the most widely quoted and misunderstood lines in Western Theravadin circles. I know that for years I labored under the common misunderstaning that the instructions in the Karaniya Metta sutta above wereintended to refer to loving all beings the way a mother loves her only child. I am forever indebted to Ven. Thanissaro bhikkhu for pointing out that what we should be protecting in this way is our attitude of loving-kindness as opposed to the utterly romantic and attractive ideal of loving all beings as if they were our children. I still like that idea but it simply isn’t what the sutta says.

Anyway, as I was standing on the bus as it picked its way through 14th Street traffic on this rainy November day, I realized how far I had let my mind slip away from me and how I had succumbed to anger and aversion. I began reciting metta verses in spite of how clunky and lifeless they felt in my mind and was struck by the fragility of a heightened mind and the fact that it is so very precious despite how much I take it for granted.

May we guard our minds of good-will as a mother would her only child and appreciate the blessing of the Dhamma.