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brahmavihāra
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brahmavihāra

Buddhist philosophy
Also known as: apramāį¹‡a
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History

brahmavihāra, (Sanskrit: ā€œliving in the Brahman-heavenā€), in Buddhist philosophy, the four noble practices of mental development through which men can attain subsequent rebirth in the Brahman heaven. These four practices are: (1) perfect virtue of sympathy, which gives happiness to living beings (Sanskrit: maitrÄ«; Pāli: metta); (2) perfect virtue of compassion, which removes pain from living beings (karuna); out of karuna the bodhisattva postpones entrance into nirvana to work for the salvation of others; (3) perfect virtue of joy, the enjoyment of the sight of others who have attained happiness (muditā); (4) perfect virtue of equanimity, being free from attachment to everything and being indifferent to living beings (Sanskrit: upekį¹£a; Pāli: upekkhā). These are also called the four apramāį¹‡as (infinite feelings), since these four practices give happiness to infinite living beings.