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Four Sublime States were a subject very dear to the heart of the Buddha. He spoke of them often. A person can achieve rebirth in a Brahma realm through the practice and attainment of the Four Sublime States; Love or Loving-kindness (metta), Compassion (karuna), Sympathetic Joy (mudita) and Equanimity (upekkha).
Sometimes called the Brahmaviharas (or divine abodes) they describe an attainable divine state in which your mind, imbued with the virtues of the four states reaches out to embrace the entire world and all of the sentient creatures within it. The Four Sublime States are the best possible relationship you can have with the world and everyone in it. They offer the possibility of liberation from the cycle of re-birth when your time comes to leave this life. Could there be a more worthy goal in life than this?
The Buddha urged people to adopt these sublime states as their habitual state of mind. This book shows you how to cultivate these states of mind which have great practical value in the way you relate to the world. They engender harmony and good-will with others and with society as a whole. They act as levellers of social barriers, and makes us feel generous towards others as we widen our circle of care to include everyone in the world, not just our immediate family and friends.
A mind that has attained the four states is untroubled by random thoughts and petty considerations. The consciousness that flows through it is calm and majestic, like a mighty river fed from pure mountain springs. The river flows into the sea but the sea level does not rise because an equal amount of water has returned to the clouds, and then fallen as rain on the mountain. This dynamic process illustrates the essence of equanimity. With the four sublime states firmly established and working in dynamic harmony, mindfulness blends with faith, courage with serenity, and insight with strength of purpose. They combine to make you an unstoppable force of nature. You are no longer prone to being trapped in the labyrinth of your own base nature, you have risen above it. Your mind becomes like a facetted jewel. The light that comes into it is reflected back out to the world as a beautiful focussed beam of light; healing, dynamic, divine.
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Four Sublime States is an invaluable guidebook for anyone seeking a profound transformation in their relationship with the world and all sentient beings.
What are some of the practical benefits of practicing the Four Sublime States:
- Reduce stress and anxiety: The Four Sublime States can help us to reduce stress and anxiety by calming our minds and bodies. They can also help us to develop a more positive outlook on life.
- Improve our relationships: The Four Sublime States can help us to improve our relationships by increasing our understanding and compassion for others. They can also help us to resolve conflict peacefully.
- Increase our happiness and well-being: The Four Sublime States can help us to increase our happiness and well-being by creating a more positive and peaceful environment in our lives. They can also help us to develop a more grateful and appreciative attitude.
- Create a more peaceful and harmonious world: The Four Sublime States can help us to create a more peaceful and harmonious world by spreading love, compassion, and understanding. They can also help us to reduce conflict and violence.
What are you waiting for? I encourage you to read this book. It is a clear, concise, and easy-to-understand guide to this powerful Buddhist practice.
David Tuffley PhD combines a career as a university lecturer and researcher with his very personal search for spiritual enlightenment over the past 40 years. David's academic interests range across Comparative Religion, Philosophy, Psychology, Anthropology, Literature, History, Software Engineering and Architecture. He blends his broad academic knowledge with the ancient practice of Buddhism and Taoism to create a truly unique work of timeless value.
