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Numbered Discourses · AN 4.126

  • Numbered Discourses 4.126Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.126
  • 13. Fears13. Bhayavagga

Love (2nd)Dutiyamettāsutta

“Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world.“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. What four?Katame cattāro?

Firstly, an individual meditates spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ tathā tatiyaṁ tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati. They contemplate the phenomena there—included in form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness—as impermanent, as suffering, as diseased, as a boil, as a dart, as gloom, as an affliction, as alien, as breaking apart, as empty, as not-self.So yadeva tattha hoti rūpagataṁ vedanāgataṁ saññāgataṁ saṅkhāragataṁ viññāṇagataṁ te dhamme aniccato dukkhato rogato gaṇḍato sallato aghato ābādhato parato palokato suññato anattato samanupassati. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of the pure abodes.So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā suddhāvāsānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. This rebirth is distinct from that of ordinary people.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, upapatti asādhāraṇā puthujjanehi.

Furthermore, an individual meditates spreading a heart full of compassion …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo karuṇā …pe… rejoicing …muditā …pe… equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ tathā tatiyaṁ tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati. They contemplate the phenomena there—included in form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness—as impermanent, as suffering, as diseased, as a boil, as a dart, as gloom, as an affliction, as alien, as breaking apart, as empty, as not-self.So yadeva tattha hoti rūpagataṁ vedanāgataṁ saññāgataṁ saṅkhāragataṁ viññāṇagataṁ te dhamme aniccato dukkhato rogato gaṇḍato sallato aghato ābādhato parato palokato suññato anattato samanupassati. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of the pure abodes.So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā suddhāvāsānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. This rebirth is distinct from that of ordinary people.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, upapatti asādhāraṇā puthujjanehi.

These are the four individuals found in the world.”Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasminti.

Similar passages elsewhere

Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.

  1. AN 4.125 Love (1st) 0.71near 0.1Numbered Discourses 4.125 13. Fears Love (1st) “Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world. What four? Firstly, an individual meditates spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, a…
  2. MN 110 The Shorter Discourse on the Full-Moon Night 0.60near 2.5when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the place where true persons are reborn. And what is the place where true persons are reborn? A state of greatness among gods or humans.” That is what the Buddha said.…
  3. MN 50 The Warning to Māra 0.54near 0.1Come, all of you mendicants, meditate spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, spread a heart…
  4. AN 4.124 Difference (2nd) 0.54near 0.1Numbered Discourses 4.124 13. Fears Difference (2nd) “Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world. What four? Take an individual who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualitie…
  5. DN 26 The Wheel-Turning Monarch 0.52near 0.1As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. This is happiness for a mendicant. And what is wealth for a mendican…
  6. AN 8.35 Rebirth by Giving 0.51near 2.5It occurs to them: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods of the four great kings!’ … When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods…
  7. MN 127 With Anuruddha 0.51near 2.5Next, take someone who meditates focused on pervading ‘pure radiance’. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of pure radiance. These are the four kinds of rebirth in a future l…