The Four God-like Abidings (Cattāri Brahmavihārā)
A monk abiding with loving-kindness,
Devoted to the teaching of the Buddha,
Attains a peaceful state—
The stilling of fabrications, ease.
— Dhammapada 368
As already mentioned, awakening requires both cognitive and affective development. A liberated mind is not only released from the cognitive constrictions of ignorance, but also from self-limiting emotional constrictions as well. The latter include the conflicted emotions such as passion and aggression. The development of the four god-like abidings are indispensable aids to help us abandon habitual aggressive and addictive mental processes.
Developing Loving-kindness (Mettābhāvanā)
Loving-kindness is considered to be an optimally skillful and meritorious mental state, and is said to be the basis for the development of the other three god-like abidings. The development of loving-kindness is praised in a number of discourses. For example, Itivuttaka 27 Mettābhāvanā Sutta:
When one develops loving-kindness,
Measureless, ever mindful,
The fetters are worn away
Seeing the elimination of clinging.
The actual development of loving-kindness is described in MN 40 Cūḷaassapura Sutta as follows:
He sees himself purified of all those worthless, unskillful qualities, he sees himself liberated from them. When he sees this, gladness is born in him. When he is glad, joy is born in him; in one who is joyous, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil feels pleasure; in one who feels pleasure, the mind becomes composed.
He abides pervading one quarter with a mind filled with loving-kindness, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, around, and everywhere, and to all as to himself, he abides pervading the whole world, in every direction, with a mind filled with loving-kindness, abundant, expansive, measureless, free from hostility, free from ill-will.
The same instructions are given for the other three god-like abidings. MN 99 states that these practices comprise the path to the company of Brahmā.
The Four God-like Abidings and the Seven Factors of Awakening (Satta Bojjhaṅgā)
Sustained, dedicated practice of loving-kindness, compassion, altruistic joy, and equanimity will gradually create the optimal conditions for the arising of all seven factors of awakening. The following discourse on loving-kindness is repeated for each of the remaining three god-like abidings. SN 46.62 Mettā Sutta (abridged):
Here monks, a monk develops the awakening factor of mindfulness accompanied by loving-kindness, dependent upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, resulting in letting go. He develops the awakening factor of dhamma-investigation accompanied by loving-kindness, dependent upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, resulting in letting go. He develops the awakening factor of energy accompanied by loving-kindness, dependent upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, resulting in letting go. He develops the awakening factor of joy accompanied by loving-kindness, dependent upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, resulting in letting go. He develops the awakening factor of tranquility accompanied by loving-kindness, dependent upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, resulting in letting go. He develops the awakening factor of meditative composure accompanied by loving-kindness, dependent upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, resulting in letting go. He develops the awakening factor of equanimity accompanied by loving-kindness, dependent upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, resulting in letting go.
It is in this way that loving-kindness is developed and cultivated so that it is of great fruit and benefit. It is in this way that loving-kindness is developed and cultivated so that one of two fruits is to be expected: either final gnosis in this very life or, if there is a residue of clinging, the state of nonreturning. It is in this way that loving-kindness is developed and cultivated so that it leads to great good. It is in this way that loving-kindness is developed and cultivated so that it leads to great security from bondage. It is in this way that loving-kindness is developed and cultivated so that it leads to a great sense of urgency. It is in this way that loving-kindness is developed and cultivated so that it leads to dwelling in great comfort.
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