Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.125 13.

The First Discourse on Goodwill

Bhayavagga Paṭhamamettāsutta “Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

Disciples, there are these four types of individuals existing in the world.

Katame cattāro?

What are the four?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ tathā tatiyaṁ tathā catutthaṁ.

Here a certain individual dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with goodwill, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth.

Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati.

Thus above, below, across, everywhere, and to all as to himself, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with goodwill, vast, exalted, measureless, free from enmity, and free from ill-will.

So tadassādeti, taṁ nikāmeti, tena ca vittiṁ āpajjati.

He delights in that, desires that, and finds satisfaction in that.

Tattha ṭhito tadadhimutto tabbahulavihārī aparihīno kālaṁ kurumāno brahmakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

Established in that, committed to that, frequently dwelling in that, not falling away, when he dies, he is reborn in the company of the Brahma-world deities.

Brahmakāyikānaṁ, bhikkhave, devānaṁ kappo āyuppamāṇaṁ.

The lifespan of the Brahma-world deities is an aeon.

Tattha puthujjano yāvatāyukaṁ ṭhatvā yāvatakaṁ tesaṁ devānaṁ āyuppamāṇaṁ taṁ sabbaṁ khepetvā nirayampi gacchati tiracchānayonimpi gacchati pettivisayampi gacchati.

There, an ordinary person, having remained for the full lifespan of those deities, having exhausted that lifespan, can go to hell, the animal realm, or the realm of ghosts.

Bhagavato pana sāvako tattha yāvatāyukaṁ ṭhatvā yāvatakaṁ tesaṁ devānaṁ āyuppamāṇaṁ taṁ sabbaṁ khepetvā tasmiṁyeva bhave parinibbāyati.

But a disciple of the Blessed One, having remained there for the full lifespan of those deities, having exhausted that lifespan, attains final Nibbana in that very existence.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, viseso ayaṁ adhippayāso idaṁ nānākaraṇaṁ sutavato ariyasāvakassa assutavatā puthujjanena, yadidaṁ gatiyā upapattiyā sati.

This is the distinction, the specific difference, the distinguishing factor between a learned noble disciple and an unlearned ordinary person, namely, in terms of destination and rebirth.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo karuṇāsahagatena cetasā …pe…

Furthermore here a certain individual dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with compassion...

muditāsahagatena cetasā …pe…

with a mind imbued with sympathetic joy...

upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ tathā tatiyaṁ tathā catutthaṁ.

with a mind imbued with equanimity, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth.

Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati.

Thus above, below, across, everywhere, and to all as to himself, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with equanimity, vast, exalted, measureless, free from enmity, and free from ill-will.

So tadassādeti, taṁ nikāmeti, tena ca vittiṁ āpajjati.

He delights in that, desires that, and finds satisfaction in that.

Tattha ṭhito tadadhimutto tabbahulavihārī aparihīno kālaṁ kurumāno ābhassarānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

Established in that, committed to that, frequently dwelling in that, not falling away, when he dies, he is reborn in the company of the Radiant deities.

Ābhassarānaṁ, bhikkhave, devānaṁ dve kappā āyuppamāṇaṁ …pe…

The lifespan of the Radiant deities is two aeons...

subhakiṇhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

he is reborn in the company of the Beautiful deities.

Subhakiṇhānaṁ, bhikkhave, devānaṁ cattāro kappā āyuppamāṇaṁ …pe…

The lifespan of the Beautiful deities is four aeons...

vehapphalānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

he is reborn in the company of the Fruitful deities.

Vehapphalānaṁ, bhikkhave, devānaṁ pañca kappasatāni āyuppamāṇaṁ.

The lifespan of the Fruitful deities is five hundred aeons.

Tattha puthujjano yāvatāyukaṁ ṭhatvā yāvatakaṁ tesaṁ devānaṁ āyuppamāṇaṁ taṁ sabbaṁ khepetvā nirayampi gacchati tiracchānayonimpi gacchati pettivisayampi gacchati.

There, an ordinary person, having remained for the full lifespan of those deities, having exhausted that lifespan, can go to hell, the animal realm, or the realm of ghosts.

Bhagavato pana sāvako tattha yāvatāyukaṁ ṭhatvā yāvatakaṁ tesaṁ devānaṁ āyuppamāṇaṁ taṁ sabbaṁ khepetvā tasmiṁyeva bhave parinibbāyati.

The disciple of the Blessed One, having lived there for the full span of life, exhausts the entire lifespan of those deities and attains final Nibbana in that very existence.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, viseso ayaṁ adhippayāso idaṁ nānākaraṇaṁ sutavato ariyasāvakassa assutavatā puthujjanena, yadidaṁ gatiyā upapattiyā sati.

This is the distinction, the special quality, the difference between a learned noble disciple and an unlearned ordinary person, namely, in terms of destination and rebirth.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti. Pañcamaṁ.

These are the four types of individuals that exist in the world.