Daily Dhamma Drop from Ceylon :-)

Friends:

How is Release by Infinite Pity Achieved?

The Blessed Buddha once said:
And how, Bhikkhus, is the mental release by universal pity achieved?
What does this liberation have as its destination, what is its culmination,
what is its sweet fruit, and what is the goal of release by universal pity?
Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu dwells pervading the frontal quadrant with a
mind imbued with infinite pity, so the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter. As above,
so below, across, and everywhere! To all beings and to himself, he dwells
pervading the entire universe with a mind saturated with unlimited pity,
immense, exalted, vast, measureless, without hostility, without enmity,
without any trace of ill will! Thus prepared & expanded he then develops:
1: The Awareness Link to Awakening joined with this limitless pity.
2: The Investigation Link to Awakening fused with such vast pity.
3: The Energy Link to Awakening together with this infinite pity.
4: The Joy Link to Awakening accompanied with this absolute pity.
5: The Tranquillity Link to Awakening linked with this spacious pity.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening associated with this great pity.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening joined with this endless pity.
While based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, & culminating in release.
If he then wishes:
May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in the unrepulsive and tempting,
then he can dwell experiencing the repulsive therein. If he wishes:
May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in the disgusting and repulsive,
then he dwells experiencing pleasing beauty in whatever is disgusting!
If he then wishes: May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in what is both
unrepulsive and repulsive, he dwells experiencing repulsive disgust in it.
If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in what is both
unrepulsive and repulsive, he experiences only excessive beauty in it!
If he wishes: Avoiding both the repulsive and the unrepulsive, may I dwell
in equanimity, just aware & clearly comprehending, then he dwells in this
equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending. Or else, by completely
transcending of all experience of form, fully stilling any perception of all
sense-reaction, non attending to any experience of diversity, only aware
that space is infinite, he enters and dwells in the infinitude of space...
I tell you Bhikkhus, for a wise Bhikkhu here, who has not yet penetrated
to an even more superior mental release, this release of mind by infinite
pity has the sublime sphere of the infinitude of space as its culmination!

Source of reference (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 115-21] 46: The Links. 54: Joined by Friendliness...

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_

Infinite Pity!

Pity can open a mental infinitude of space!