Brahmavihara 4 as a Practice of Meditation in Visuddhimagga

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to study Brahmavihara 4 that appeared in the Buddhist scriptures; 2) to study Brahmavihara 4 in the Visuddhimagga; and 3) to propose the guidelines for a practice of Brahmavihara 4 as a practice of meditation in Visuddhimagga. This study was a documentary research by studying the primary information such as Tipitaka and Visuddhimagga as well as the secondary information from documents, textbooks and research. The results of the research revealed that 1) Brahmavihara 4 that appears in the Buddhist scriptures were: The Buddha was born as a Bodhisattva. He practiced Brahmavihara with a mind composed of Metta that is abundant, invaluable, without enmity, without vendetta against everyone, without boundaries, spreading to every place of the world; with a mind composed of Karuna etc., with a mind composed of Mudita etc., with a mind composed of Upekkha etc..2) Brahmavihara 4 in Visuddhimagga is the noble virtue without blame and the principle of meditation that calmed the mind; Mettabhavana is the development of the mind by spreading love to others; Karunabhavana is the development of the mind by spreading compassion for those who suffer from suffering; Muditabhavana is the development of the mind by spreading joy to the others; Upekkhabhavana is the development of the mind by spreading indifference to the suffering and happiness of others; and 3) the guidelines for practicing Brahmavihara 4 as a practice of meditation in Visuddhimagga are the spreading the mind with Metta, Karuna, and Mudita to others. And the practice of Upekkahbhavana by eliminating the happiness and suffering of those who have practiced Brahmavihara before, spreading the mind consisting of Upekkha to others, praying until the mind is Simabheta (equality) which is having Metta, Karuna, Mudita and Upekkha towards oneself, loved ones, mediators and partners, equal as if they are the same persons. It is regarded as a sign of prayer, the mind is concentrated, Nivarana 5 is suppressed, Brahmaviharabhavana makes the mind attain Appana-samadhi. (Peace without boundaries, no estimate).