Divine Abidings (brahmavihārā)
Skillful qualities / Divine Abidings
Alternative translations: Mature emotions
Also a subtag of Meditation/Techniques
Subtags: Goodwill, Compassion, Empathetic joy, Equanimity
23 excerpts, 2:18:05 total duration

All excerpts (24) Most relevant (10) Questions about (8) Answers involving (14) Stories (1) Quotes (1) Texts (1)


Metta Retreat, Session 4 – Sep. 12, 2008

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18. “When I think of people with spontaneous open generous hearts, they are full of mettā, karuṇā, and muditā, but do not seem equanimous. Can upekkhā come naturally or is it a result of cultivation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Divine Abidings] [Equanimity] [Conditionality] // [Becoming] [Liberation] [Craving] [Technology]

Quote: “When we say not moved, it doesn’t mean dull, shut down, closed off, but being completely in tune, being very clear, and then not being shaken by anything.” [Clear comprehension]


Abhayagiri Monastic Retreat 2013, Session 5 – Nov. 27, 2013

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9. “Where do the Brahma-Viharas fit into the 4 Noble Truths?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Four Noble Truths] [Divine Abidings ] // [Eightfold Path] [Right Intention]


Abhayagiri Monastic Retreat 2013, Session 6 – Nov. 28, 2013

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5. “In the chant ‘Suffusion with the Divine Abidings,’ what does it mean “I will abide pervading the all encompassing world with a heard imbued with loving-kindness. Likewise the second...third...fourth’? Why does it not say something like ‘pervading the entire heart’?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Divine Abidings] [Heart/mind]


Thai Forest Tradition, Session 3 – Jun. 14, 2014

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10. “You mentioned how Ajahn Chah cultivated the brahmavihara of metta and Ajahn Liem cultivated the brahmavihara of equilibrium. Could you talk about this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Goodwill] [Divine Abidings] [Ajahn Liem] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Personality] [Judaism]

Quote: “Lots of lovingkindness is really tiring. I’m putting more attention on equanimity.” — Ajahn Liem [Equanimity]


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 41 – Mar. 6, 2015

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[Session] [Mindfulness of mind] [Divine Abidings]

Reading: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, The Foundations of Mindfulness.

Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 132-133, 174-175, 137.

Reading: SN 42.8: “The Conch Blower.”


Jhāna: A Practical Approach, Session 4 – Oct. 10, 2015

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7. “I practice the brahmavihāras, and not just on the cushion. How do these relate to jhāna?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Divine Abidings] [Posture/Sitting] [Posture/Walking] [Jhāna] // [Continuity of mindfulness] [Skillful qualities]

Quote: “You can sit on your cushion for a long time. Chickens sit for a long time, and they don’t get enlightened!” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Liberation] [Animal]


Suttas You've Never Heard Of, Session 2 – Jun. 25, 2016

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6. Story: Ajahn Pasanno visits the elderly Cambodian monk Mahāgossānanda who has Alzheimer’s disease. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Preah Mahāghosānanda] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Sickness] // [Dalai Lama] [Divine Abidings] [Ajahn Chah] [Heart/mind]

Quote: “That thing you learn in meditation—that you don’t lose.” — Ajahn Fuang [Ajahn Fuang] [Meditation] [Liberation]

Story: A monk known for psychic powers visits Ajahn Chah’s sick room and reports: “You don’t have to worry about Ajahn Chah. His heart is so bright.” [Psychic powers] [Dependent origination] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Lunar observance days]


The Teaching and the Training, Session 9 – Mar. 27, 2018

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7. “What is the importance of the brahmavihārās in balancing out dhutaṅga practices?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Divine Abidings] [Monastic life] [Ascetic practices] // [Recollection/Buddha] [Gladdening the mind] [Attachment to precepts and practices] [Discernment] [Compassion] [Learning] [Arahant]


Abhayagiri 25th Anniversary Retreat, Session 19 – Jun. 14, 2021

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11. “Should we consider the brahmavihāras a form of emotion or are they kinds of knowledge or understanding?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Divine Abidings] [Emotion] [Knowledge and vision]


Madison Insight Retreat 2023, Session 2 – Oct. 14, 2023

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9. “Please offer your thoughts on how to cultivate the brahmavihāras on and off the cushion.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Divine Abidings ] [Everyday life] // [Spaciousness] [Goodwill] [Compassion] [Empathetic joy] [Equanimity] [Generosity]

Ajahn Vajiro defined the brahamavihāras as the mature emotions. [Ajahn Vajiro] [Divine Abidings ] [Emotion]