Than Hsiang's Pu Men Pin Online Gong Xiu Dharma Sharing (04/09/2026)

Teaching Assistant of International Buddhist College, Sis Wong Ping Ling shared on " The Four Sublime States of Mind ( Part 1 ) "

The Four Sublime States of Mind (Brahmavihārā) (四无量心)：
• These are four sublime states of mind common to the Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna traditions.
• These four virtues are said to be sublime or excellent because they are the right way of conduct towards living beings.
• They contribute to a harmonious society as "they are the great removers of tension, the great peace- makers in social conflict, and the great healers of wounds suffered in the struggle of existence." (Nyanaponika Thera, 1994)
• All social problems can be traced to the human mind and the solution is to train our minds with these four qualities.

Love or loving-kindness (mettā):
The wish for all beings to be happy. Loving-kindness seeks to overcome anger.

Compassion (karuṇā) :
The wish for all beings to be free from suffering. Compassion seeks to overcome cruelty.

Appreciative/Sympathetic Joy (muditā) :
Sympathetic joy arises when one rejoices over the happiness of others and wishes others well-being and success. This seeks to overcome jealousy.

Equanimity (upekkhā) :
Even-mindedness, treating everyone impartially. Equanimity seeks to overcome prejudice.

The Four Sublime States of Mind (Brahmavihārā) are also known as:
• Four Immeasurables – these are directed towards all living beings everywhere, without any exclusion or partiality.
• Four Divine Abodes – they should become the mind's constant dwelling places where we feel at home, just like Brahma.

There are 2 ways of developing these Four Sublime States of Mind:
1. Practical conduct – constant practice in daily life
2. Methodical meditation – persistent meditative practice will make these 4 qualities sink deep into the heart so they become spontaneous attitudes; and it will lead to their boundless nature. The meditations on these 4 virtues can lead to the jhānas or meditative absorptions.
Each method will reinforce the other. Our daily life and thoughts have a strong influence on the meditative mind.

1. LOVE or LOVING-KINDNESS (mettā) :
• the wish for all beings to be happy.
• also translated as goodwill, i.e., the wish for the welfare and happiness of all living beings.
• The definition of Mettā is best described by the Mettā Sutta.

Mettā Sutta (Sn 1.8) :
• He who is skilled in good, and wishes to attain that state of Peace, should act thus: he should be able, upright, perfectly upright, amenable to corrections, gentle and humble.
• He should be contented, easy to support, unbusy, simple in livelihood, with senses controlled, discreet, not impudent, and not greedily attached to families.
• He would not commit any slight misdeeds that other wise men might find fault in him. May all beings be well and safe, may their hearts rejoice.
• Whatever beings there are — weak or strong, long or short, big, medium-sized or small, subtle or gross,
• Those visible or invisible, residing near or far, those that have come to be or have yet to come, (without exceptions) may all beings be joyful.
• Let one not deceive nor despise another person, anywhere at all.
• In anger and ill-will, let him not wish any harm to another.
• Just as a mother would protect her only child with her own life, even so, let him cultivate boundless thoughts of loving kindness towards all beings.
• Let him cultivate boundless thoughts of loving kindness towards the whole world — above, below and all around, unobstructed, free from hatred and enmity.
• Whether standing, walking, seated or lying down, as long as he is awake, he should develop this mindfulness. This they say, is the divine abiding here.
• Not erroneous with views, endowed with virtues and insight, with sensual desires abandoned, he would come no more to be conceived in a womb.
-- (Nalanda Institute Malaysia, c. 2011)

Meditation on Mettā (loving-kindness) :
1. First, start mettā meditation towards oneself and repeat:
"May I be happy and free from suffering".
2. Then, extend the thought of loving-kindness to a person whom we respect, e.g. teacher, father or mother.
3. Then extend to a dearly beloved person.
4. Followed by a neutral person.
5. Finally, towards an enemy or a person whom you dislike.

11 Benefits of Mettā (Loving-Kindness) :
1. You will sleep easily
2. You will wake easily
3. You will have pleasant dreams
4. People will love you
5. Devas (gods or angels) and animals will love you
6. Devas will protect you
7. External dangers, such as poisons, weapons, and fire, will not harm you
8. Your face will be radiant
9. Your mind will be serene
10. You will die unconfused
11. You will be re-born in happy realms
--(from Anguttara Nikaya 11.16)

Loving-Kindness in Action:
Video shared with permission from Hsin Yee Lim (Facebook 31 Dec 2025)
"Many asked why we do what we do. This is why.
• For the scared hearts to trust again.
• For the uncertain eyes to sparkle again.
• For the fearful tails to wag again.
• For my stubborn, hopeful belief, that the world deserves more kindness, that every being deserves a safe place."

"May this video move you.
• Not necessarily toward us, but toward your own corner of the world.
• Toward the person who needs a smile.
• Toward the creature who needs a safe place.
• Toward the stranger who needs a gentle hand.
• May you feel the power that rests in your hands to offer a softer landing. To be the reason someone or something believes in good again.
• Because a kind world isn't found. It's built."

May all beings be well and happy!

AMITUOFO.

For more information, please browse https://www.youtube.com/live/HH88c54i9V4?feature=share&sttick=0

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