Cattāri Brahmavihārā

The birth of my daughter has set me reflecting on the dangers of attachment once more and I can think of few better or more concise suttas to direct my contemplations than this:

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s monastery. Then Mara the Evil One went to the Blessed One and recited this verse in his presence:

Those with children delight because of their children. Those with cattle delight because of their cows. A person’s delight comes from acquisitions, since a person with no acquisitions doesn’t delight.

[The Buddha:]

Those with children grieve because of their children. Those with cattle grieve because of their cows. A person’s grief comes from acquisitions, since a person with no acquisitions doesn’t grieve.

Then Mara the Evil One — sad & dejected at realizing, “The Blessed One knows me; the One Well-Gone knows me” — vanished right there.