DN 19 jhāna of compassion

 

Sutaṃ kho pana metaṃ brāhmaṇānaṃ vuddhānaṃ mahallakānaṃ ācariyapācariyānaṃ bhāsamānānaṃ:	I have heard that brahmins of the past who were elderly and senior, the teachers of teachers, said:
‘yo vassike cattāro māse paṭisallīyati, karuṇaṃ jhānaṃ jhāyati, so brahmānaṃ passati brahmunā sākaccheti brahmunā sallapati brahmunā mantetī’ti.	‘Whoever goes on retreat for the four months of the rainy season and practices the jhāna on compassion sees Brahmā and discusses with him.’
Yannūnāhaṃ vassike cattāro māse paṭisallīyeyyaṃ, karuṇaṃ jhānaṃ jhāyeyyan”ti.	Why don’t I do that?”

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Atha kho, bho, mahāgovindo brāhmaṇo puratthimena nagarassa navaṃ sandhāgāraṃ kārāpetvā vassike cattāro māse paṭisallīyi, karuṇaṃ jhānaṃ jhāyi;	Then the Great Steward had a new meeting hall built to the east of his citadel, where he went on retreat for the four months of the rainy season and practiced the jhāna on compassion.
nāssudha koci upasaṅkamati aññatra ekena bhattābhihārena.	And no one approached him except the one who brought him meals.
Atha kho, bho, mahāgovindassa brāhmaṇassa catunnaṃ māsānaṃ accayena ahudeva ukkaṇṭhanā ahu paritassanā:
“sutaṃ kho pana metaṃ brāhmaṇānaṃ vuddhānaṃ mahallakānaṃ ācariyapācariyānaṃ bhāsamānānaṃ:	“I have heard that brahmins of the past said that
‘yo vassike cattāro māse paṭisallīyati, karuṇaṃ jhānaṃ jhāyati, so brahmānaṃ passati, brahmunā sākaccheti brahmunā sallapati brahmunā mantetī’ti.	whoever goes on retreat for the four months of the rainy season and practices the jhāna on compassion sees Brahmā and discusses with him.
Na kho panāhaṃ brahmānaṃ passāmi, na brahmunā sākacchemi na brahmunā sallapāmi na brahmunā mantemī”ti.	But I neither see Brahmā nor discuss with him.”

19.6.3 - A Discussion With Brahmā

6.3. Brahmunāsākacchā	6.3. A Discussion With Brahmā
Atha kho, bho, brahmā sanaṅkumāro mahāgovindassa brāhmaṇassa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṃ vā bāhaṃ pasāreyya, pasāritaṃ vā bāhaṃ samiñjeyya; evameva—brahmaloke antarahito mahāgovindassa brāhmaṇassa sammukhe pāturahosi.	And then Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra, knowing what the Great Steward was thinking, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the Brahmā realm and reappeared in the Great Steward’s presence.
Atha kho, bho, mahāgovindassa brāhmaṇassa ahudeva bhayaṃ ahu chambhitattaṃ ahu lomahaṃso yathā taṃ adiṭṭhapubbaṃ rūpaṃ disvā.	At that, the Great Steward became frightened, scared, his hair standing on end, as he had never seen such a sight before.
Atha kho, bho, mahāgovindo brāhmaṇo bhīto saṃviggo lomahaṭṭhajāto brahmānaṃ sanaṅkumāraṃ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:	So he addressed Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra in verse:
“Vaṇṇavā yasavā sirimā,	“Who might you be, sir,
ko nu tvamasi mārisa;	so beautiful, glorious, majestic?
Ajānantā taṃ pucchāma,	Not knowing, I ask—
kathaṃ jānemu taṃ mayan”ti.	how am I to know who you are?”
“Maṃ ve kumāraṃ jānanti,	“In the Brahmā realm they know me
brahmaloke sanantanaṃ;	as ‘The Eternal Youth’.
Sabbe jānanti maṃ devā,	All the gods know me thus,
evaṃ govinda jānahi”.	and so you should know me, Steward.”
“Āsanaṃ udakaṃ pajjaṃ,	“A Brahmā deserves a seat and water,
madhusākañca brahmuno;	foot-salve, and sweet cakes.
Agghe bhavantaṃ pucchāma,	Sir, I ask you to please accept
agghaṃ kurutu no bhavaṃ”.	these gifts of hospitality.”

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Atha kho, bho, mahāgovindassa brāhmaṇassa etadahosi:	Then the Great Steward thought:
“kusalo kho ahaṃ diṭṭhadhammikānaṃ atthānaṃ, aññepi maṃ diṭṭhadhammikaṃ atthaṃ pucchanti.	“I’m an expert in what is beneficial for this life, and others even ask me about it.
Yannūnāhaṃ brahmānaṃ sanaṅkumāraṃ samparāyikaññeva atthaṃ puccheyyan”ti.	Why don’t I ask Brahmā about the benefit that specifically applies to lives to come?”
Atha kho, bho, mahāgovindo brāhmaṇo brahmānaṃ sanaṅkumāraṃ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:	So he addressed Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra in verse:
“Pucchāmi brahmānaṃ sanaṅkumāraṃ,	“I’m in doubt, so I ask Brahmā—who is free of doubt—
Kaṅkhī akaṅkhiṃ paravediyesu;	about things one may learn from another.
Katthaṭṭhito kimhi ca sikkhamāno,	Standing on what, training in what
Pappoti macco amataṃ brahmalokan”ti.	may a mortal reach the deathless Brahmā realm?”
“Hitvā mamattaṃ manujesu brahme,	“He among men, O brahmin, has given up possessions,
Ekodibhūto karuṇedhimutto;	become one, compassionate,
Nirāmagandho virato methunasmā,	free from the stench of decay, and refraining from sex.
Etthaṭṭhito ettha ca sikkhamāno;	Standing on that, training in that
Pappoti macco amataṃ brahmalokan”ti.	a mortal may reach the deathless Brahmā realm.”
“‘Hitvā mamattan’ti ahaṃ, bhoto, ājānāmi.	“Sir, I understand what ‘giving up possessions’ means.
Idhekacco appaṃ vā bhogakkhandhaṃ pahāya mahantaṃ vā bhogakkhandhaṃ pahāya appaṃ vā ñātiparivaṭṭaṃ pahāya mahantaṃ vā ñātiparivaṭṭaṃ pahāya kesamassuṃ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajati,	It’s when someone gives up a large or small fortune, and a large or small family circle. They shave off hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness.
iti ‘hitvā mamattan’ti ahaṃ, bhoto, ājānāmi.	That’s how I understand ‘giving up possessions’.
‘Ekodibhūto’ti ahaṃ, bhoto, ājānāmi.	Sir, I understand what ‘oneness’ means.
Idhekacco vivittaṃ senāsanaṃ bhajati araññaṃ rukkhamūlaṃ pabbataṃ kandaraṃ giriguhaṃ susānaṃ vanapatthaṃ abbhokāsaṃ palālapuñjaṃ,	It’s when someone frequents a secluded lodging—a wilderness, the root of a tree, a hill, a ravine, a mountain cave, a charnel ground, a forest, the open air, a heap of straw.
iti ‘ekodibhūto’ti ahaṃ, bhoto, ājānāmi.	That’s how I understand ‘oneness’.
‘Karuṇedhimutto’ti ahaṃ, bhoto, ājānāmi.	Sir, I understand what ‘compassionate’ means.
Idhekacco karuṇāsahagatena cetasā ekaṃ disaṃ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṃ, tathā tatiyaṃ, tathā catutthaṃ. Iti uddhamadhotiriyaṃ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṃ lokaṃ karuṇāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati.	It’s when someone meditates spreading a heart full of compassion to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of compassion to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.
Iti ‘karuṇedhimutto’ti ahaṃ, bhoto, ājānāmi.	That’s how I understand ‘compassionate’.