Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa !
Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Supremely Enlightened One !

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Savatthi, in Jeta’s Grove. Then Queen Mallika approached the Blessed One, paid homage, and said to him:
(1) “Bhante, why is it that some women here are (i) ugly and unsightly; (ii) poor, and needy, (iii) lacking in influence?
(2) And why is it that some are (i) ugly and unsightly; but (ii) rich, with great wealth and property; (iii) and influential?
(3) And why is it that some women here are (i) beautiful, attractive, and possessing supreme beauty of complexion; (ii) but poor and needy; and (iii) lacking in influence?
(4) And why is it that some are (i) beautiful, attractive; (ii) rich, with great wealth and property; (iii) and influential?”

(1) “Here, Mallika, (i) some woman is prone to anger and easily annoyed.(ii) She does not give things. (iii) And she is envious. When she passes away from that state, if she comes back to this world, wherever she is reborn (i) she is ugly, ill formed, and unsightly; (ii) poor, and needy; (iii) and lacking in influence.

(2) “Another woman is (i) prone to anger and easily annoyed (ii) But she gives things. (iii) And she is without envy. When she passes away from that state, if she comes back to this world, wherever she is reborn (i) she is ugly, ill formed, and unsightly; (ii) but she is rich, with great wealth and property; (iii) and influential.

(3) “Still another woman is (i) not prone to anger or often annoyed. (ii) But she does not give things. (iii) And she is envious. When she passes away from that state, if she comes back to this world, wherever she is reborn, (i) she is beautiful, attractive, and graceful. (ii) But she is poor, needy, with little wealth; (iii) and lacking in influence.

(4) “And still another woman is (i) not prone to anger or often annoyed. Even if she is criticized a lot, she does not lose her temper and become irritated, hostile, and stubborn; she does not display anger, hatred, and bitterness (ii) And she gives things to ascetics; food and drink; clothing and vehicles; (iii) And she is without envy, one who does not envy, resent, or jealous of the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others. When she passes away from that state, if she comes back to this world, wherever she is reborn (i) she is beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion; (ii) rich, with great wealth and property; (iii) and influential.

When this was said, Queen Mallika said to the Blessed One: “I suppose, Bhante, (i) that in some earlier life I was prone to anger and often annoyed. Therefore I am now ugly, ill formed, and unsightly. (ii) But I suppose that in some earlier life I gave things. Therefore I am now rich, with great wealth and property. (iii) And I suppose that in some earlier life I was without envy. Therefore I am now influential. In this court there are girls of Khattiya, Brahmin, and householder families over whom I exercise command.
“From today, Bhante, (i) I will not be prone to anger and often annoyed. Even when I am criticized a lot I will not lose my temper and become irritated, hostile, and stubborn; I will not display anger, hatred, and bitterness. (ii) And I will give things to ascetics or Brahmins: food and drink; clothing and vehicles; bedding, dwellings, and lighting. (iii) And I will not be envious, one who envies, resents, and jealous of the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others.

“Excellent! Bhante, Excellent! Let the Blessed One consider me a lay follower who from today has gone for refuge for life.”
Sādhu ! Sādhu !! Sādhu !!! ( Excellent )

May we all reign in our anger, give to worthy ones and let go of envy.