New delhi, india in buddhist teachings, the four brahmaviharas, translated as the immeasurables, divine. Jul 09, 2014 i am reading this book now and was so struck by the above passage and the notion of near enemy emotions. Here, monks, a disciple dwells pervading one direction with his heart filled. Near enemies are states that appear similar to the desired quality but actually undermine it.
Far enemy of equanimity is attraction and revulsion. Jun 07, 2014 near enemies, on the other hand, are much sneakier and harder to spot, because they so closely resemble the thing theyre the enemy of. The four immeasurables padmasambhava buddhist center. I made a diagram for remembering the near and far enemies of.
Beware of lurking near enemies by marguerite theophil, november 3, 2009. Oct, 2019 using the brahma viharas to work with their near enemies. Jan 24, 2016 a near enemy is the idea that anyone can climb out of poverty who tries. The far enemies of joy are jealousy and greed, mindstates in obvious opposition. As the source both of inner and external peace, they are fundamental to the continued survival of our species. The near and far enemies of loving kindness namchak community.
I recently spent 8 days at a retreat on the topic of the brahma viharas also known as the four divine abodes, or the four immeasurables in buddhism, which are. The near enemy of equanimity is stupid indifference, and the far enemy is attraction and repulsion. His holiness the dalai lama from the little book of buddhism. For example, the near enemy of empathetic joy is frivolity, while the far enemy consists of cynicism and despair combined. It sets up a separation between ourselves and others, a sense of distance and remoteness from the suffering of others that is affirming and. Aug 30, 2020 using the brahma viharas to work with their near enemies i recently spent 8 days at a retreat on the topic of the brahma viharas also known as the four divine abodes, or the four immeasurables in buddhism, which are. Far enemy of sympathetic joy is cynicism and despair. Equanimity upeksha fourth of the four immeasurables. Bodhicitta tibetan buddhism equanimity sevenfold causeandeffect instruction equalizing and exchanging self and others. But i think it might be helpful just momentarily to take a couple of steps back because within this grid, this matrix of the four immeasurables and how they interrelate, and im thinking especially of budhagosas analysis of the near enemies, the far enemies, the proximate cause, signs of failure, signs of success. They are often practiced by taking each of the immeasurables in turn and applying it to oneself a practice taught by many contemporary teachers and monastics that was established after. Seeing equality in beings, balanced, nonreactive, nonpartial awareness. Equanimity is the basis for unconditional, altruistic love, compassion and joy for others happiness and bodhicitta.
The near enemy of love, or a quality which appears similar, but is more an opposite is. Instead of feeling the openness of compassion, pity says, oh, that poor person. In steps forgiving others accepting forgiveness love and forgiveness to self and others compassion. Near enemy can be seen as mindlessness coupled with the brahma vihara. Sep 16, 2016 longchenpa went on to explain that the aspirational bodhichitta is actually based on the four immeasurables. The near enemy is as close as your own judgment of someone else. In one of the most interesting chapters, wallace discusses the near and the far enemies of the four immeasurables. This talk contains guided meditations on equanimity. The near enemy of love, or a quality which appears similar, but is. Each immeasurable also has a direct opposite, its far enemy. The opposite is anxiety, worry, stress and paranoia caused by dividing people into good and bad. Longchenpa went on to explain that the aspirational bodhichitta is actually based on the four immeasurables. Each of these four immeasurables has a far enemy its opposite and a near enemy a deceptive substitute.
Sep 03, 2020 near and far enemies are buddhist terms that are usually applied to the brahmaviharas, or the four immeasurables lovingkindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. Far enemy of compassion is cruelty, near enemy is grief. The four immeasurables meet your next favorite book. Dec 15, 2016 the near enemies create distance and isolation. Brahmaviharas research project measuring the immeasurables. But the near enemies are things that look so close to what youre trying to cultivate, but are actually fundamentally different in a dangerous way. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Clinging is thus called the near enemy, because it looks like real love. Each of the four immeasurables has a near and far enemy. Buddhism has a set of virtues called the four immeasurables. The near enemy of equanimity is stupid indifference, and the far enemy is attraction and repulsion, in which the heart reaches towards some and rejects others.
If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. So im confused as to why applying the four immeasurables to my practice becomes an obstacle in the sense that i find myself distracted or maybe not using attention in the right way. You can bring one or more of the four brahmaviharas to mind anytime during your day to renew your loving connection to others. And finding it fluid and actually for the first time accessible. Because sentient beings are as limitless as space, our practice of these four virtues must also be immeasurable. The four immeasurables are explained in the path of purification visuddhimagga, written in the fifth century ce by the scholar and commentator buddhagho. You may also have heard them referred to as the divine abodes, sublime attitudes, andor the abodes of brahma.
Nov 19, 2019 by cultivating the four immeasurables, you not only develop limitless love but undo what the buddha called their near enemies. Four brahmaviharas highest attitudesemotions heavenly or sublime abodes best home. The four immeasurables practices to open the heart. The pauses and bells that end certain stages are indicated in the text. When we discriminate between friends and enemies, how can we ever want to help all sentient beings. Near enemy is a quality that can masquerade as the original, but is not the original. Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. It is tempting to think that just not caring is equanimity, but that is just a form of egotism, where we only care about ourselves. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. Alan wallace responds to questions by retreat participants. New delhi, india in buddhist teachings, the four brahmaviharas, translated as the immeasurables, divine abodes, or divine abidings are. Recommended books controversy a to z glossary number glossary. Using the brahma viharas to work with their near enemies.
I recently spent 8 days at a retreat on the topic of the brahma viharas also known as the four divine abodes, or the four immeasurables in. The author of more than two dozen books, she established buddhist centers in. The far enemy is greed, taking of sides, prejudice, resentment. And now bringing the four immeasurables into the practice, theres a chart talking about decay and oh, there it is. I made a diagram for remembering the near and far enemies of the. Bodhicitta tibetan buddhism equanimity sevenfold causeandeffect instruction. The 4 immeasurables, or brahmaviharas, by sylvia boorstein. What keeps me connected to the world outside myself, as well as to my own natural goodness, is wishing others well in moments of both bad and good fortune, and acting with ordinary benevolence toward people as they go about their regular business of lifeof appreciation, consolation, and.
The opposite of equanimity is anxiety, worry, stress and paranoia caused by dividing people into good and bad. Karuna compassion arises when we meet suffering with metta. The four immeasurables pali tradition love compassion joy equanimity four immeasurables and insight near and far enemies sanskrit tradition. Joys near enemy, the quality which superficially resembles joy but is in fact more subtly in opposition to it, is exhilaration, described as a grasping at pleasant experience out of a sense of insufficiency or lack. Each of the four immeasurables has near and far enemies. By zoketsu norman fischer may 27, 2010 editors note. Needy, possessive codependency can look and feel a lot like. Love, compassion, joy and equanimity compassion and love are not mere luxuries. In buddhist teachings, the four brahmaviharas, translated as the immeasurables, divine abodes, or divine abidings are. Wisdom and compassion are sometimes compared to two wings that work together to enable flying or two eyes that work together to see deeply. You might consider pausing during the reading of the talk to do this practice. I made a diagram for remembering the near and far enemies. The author of more than two dozen books, she established buddhist centers i.
Mudita joy arises when we meet happiness, good fortune, or positive qualities with metta. It is tempting to think that just not caring is equanimity, but that is just a form of egotism. Jan 22, 2018 the far enemies are fairly straightforward. Jul 09, 2018 the buddha taught that to realize enlightenment, a person must develop two qualities. Jan 12, 2015 the four immeasurables brahmaviharasdivine abodes refer to virtues and practices that act as antidotes to negativenonvirtuous mental states. Since we are getting near the end, ive wanted to ask this question. Each of the four practices were focusing on in our 100 days of lovingkindness metta lovingkindness, karuna compassion, mudita joyful appreciation, and upekkha evenminded love collectively known as the divine abidings brahma viharas or the four immeasurables has a near enemy.
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