The Incommensurable Four (Sansk.: apramāna ; Faded.: appamanna ; Tib.: tshad med bzhi ) is also called will brahmavihāras (Pāli and Sanskrit), the residences sublimes of Brahma, or more prosaically led pious. They are four loving feelings spiritualized, and brought up to date in attitudes and behaviors. They are known as incommensurable or unlimited from the range of their object and their effectiveness. It is:

  • Maitrī (Sansk.) or Mettā (Pāli): Bienveillance
    Souhait that all the beings find the happiness and the causes of happiness
  • Karunā (S. and P.): Compassion
    Souhait that the beings are released from the suffering and the causes of the suffering
  • Muditā (S. and P.): Sympathy, or Joie sympathizer
    Souhait that the beings find the joy free from suffering
  • Upekṣā (Sansk.) or Upekkhā (Pāli): Équanimité , or Détachement
    Souhait that the beings remain in the great free equanimity of partiality, attachment and aversion

In the Mahāyāna, they are considered essential with the practice of the Bodhicitta known as of aspiration , and are integral part of the catch of wishes of the Bodhisattva (pranidhāna). It is known as in Vimalakīrti Nirdesha Sūtra: To cultivate the four immeasurable thoughts, otherwise than to reappear in a world of Brahmā, such is the practice of the bodhisattva. Indeed, apart from the framework of the bodhicitta, these practices are judicious to grant the rebirth in the paradises of Brahmā. Considering this somewhat egoistic motivation, and sees it god X perilous in this respect, Bouddha Shākyamuni reorientated this practice towards the accession with the Awakening. Here how to achieve it:

I will remain flooding a district the universe with an impregnated heart of compassion,
…/of benevolence/rejoicing/equanimity

In the same way for the second district, the third, the fourth,
In the same way to the top, bottom, with the entour and everywhere,
Towards each one as towards myself;
I will remain flooding the all-embracing world,
With an impregnated heart of compassion,
Abondant, high, incommensurable,
Without hostility nor unwillingness.

Random links:Black mountain | Charnoz-on-Ain | Jean-Claude Bonato | Beldi | Academic institute of technology of Poitiers | Université_de_Carnegie_Mellon_des_beaux-arts

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