Four Noble Truths and the Brahma-viharas
I have asked myself whether there exists a link between the Four Noble Truths and the Brahma-viharas (also known as the four divine abodes or the boundless states).
As a result, I created a table which presents the Four Noble Truths and the four Brahma-viharas side by side, in two columns.
In looking at the table, I believe that a relationship or correlation between the Four Noble Truths and the four divine abodes does emerge.
The Four Noble Truths are:
- The Truth of Dissatisfaction and Suffering
- The Cause of Dissatisfaction and Suffering
- The End of Dissatisfaction and Suffering
- The Path Leading to the End of Dissatisfaction and Suffering
The Four Brahma-viharas (sublime attitudes) are:
- Metta – goodwill; the wish for true happiness, directed first to oneself and then to others
- Karuna – compassion; the desire for suffering to stop
- Mudita – empathetic joy; the desire for happiness to continue
- Upekkha – equanimity; the discernment to see where one can truly be of help; not cold-heartedness or indifference
- For a copy of the table, click Link Between the Four Noble Truths and the Brahma-viharas.
- For an MS Word copy, click Link Between the Four Noble Truths and the Brahma-viharas.