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General
Buddhism |
Namo Dharmaya !
Hail to the Teachings
THE FOUR IMMEASURABLES
PAGE CONTENTS
Introduction
Love
Compassion
Sympathetic joy
Equanimity
The four immeasurables are found in one brief and beautiful prayer:
May all sentient beings have happiness and its' causes,The Buddha taught the following to his son Rahula (from "Old path white clouds" by Thich Nhat Hahn):
May all sentient beings be free of suffering and its' causes,
May all sentient beings never be separated from bliss without suffering,
May all sentient beings be in equanimity, free of bias, attachment and anger.
"Rahula, practice loving kindness to overcome anger. Loving kindness has the capacity to bring happiness to others without demanding anything in return.
Practice compassion to overcome cruelty. Compassion has the capacity to remove the suffering of others without expecting anything in return.
Practice sympathetic joy to overcome hatred. Sympathetic joy arises when one rejoices over the happiness of others and wishes others well-being and success.
Practice non-attachment to overcome prejudice. Non-attachment is the way of looking at all things openly and equally. This is because that is. Myself and others are not separate. Do not reject one thing only to chase after another.
I call these the 4 immeasurables. Practice them and you will become a refreshing source of vitality and happiness for others."
The definition of love in Buddhism is: wanting others to be happy.
This love is unconditional, requires a lot of courage and acceptance (including
self-acceptance).
The "near enemy" of love, or a quality which appears similar, but is more an
opposite is: conditional love (selfish love, see also the page on attachment).
The opposite is wanting others to be unhappy: anger,
hatred.
A result which one needs to avoid is: attachment.
The definition is: wanting others to be free from suffering.
This compassion happens when one feels sorry with someone, and one feels an
urge to help.
The near enemy is pity, which keeps the other at a distance.
The opposite is wanting others to suffer, or cruelty.
A result which one needs to avoid is sentimentality. (See also the page on compassion.)
The definition is: being happy with someone's fortune/happiness. Sympathetic
joy here refers to the potential of bliss and happiness of all sentient beings,
as they can all become Buddhas.
The near enemy is hypocrisy or affectation.
The opposite is jealousy.
A result which one needs to avoid is: spaced-out bliss.
Note: sympathetic joy is a good antidote to depression.
The definition is: not to distinguish between friend, enemy or stranger, but
regard every sentient being as equal. It is a clear-minded tranquil state of
mind - not being overpowered by delusions, no mental dullness or agitation.
The near enemy is indifference.
The opposite is anxiety, worry, stress and paranoia.
A result which one needs to avoid is apathy.
Equanimity is the basis for unconditional, altruistic love, compassion, joy
for other's happiness and Bodhicitta.
When we discriminate between friends and enemies, how can we ever want to help
all sentient beings?
As the Buddha taught:
If one tries to befriend an enemy for a moment, he becomes your friend.
The same thing occurs when one treats a friend as an enemy.
Therefore, by understanding the impermanence of temporal relations,
Wise ones are never attached to food, clothing or reputation, nor to friends or enemies.The father becomes the son in another life,
Mother becomes the wife,
Enemy becomes friend;
It always changes.
Therefore there is nothing definite in samsara.
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Last updated: January 26, 2001
