The Four Noble Abodes

Also named the Brahma Vihara, the Abode of Brahma, the Divine Abodes, the Pure Abodes, and the Immeasurable States.

1...Loving Kindness

2...Compassion

3...Altruistic (Sympathetic) Joy

4...Equanimity

Loving Kindness is the wish for the welfare and happiness of All Beings.

Compassion is the feeling of empathy for all those afflicted with Dukkha*.

Altruistic or Sympathetic Joy is the feeling of happiness at the success and good fortune of Others.

Equanimity is a balanced reaction to joy and misery, good fortune and bad, which protects one from emotional agitation.

*The Buddha said, “Birth is dukkha, aging is dukkha, sickness is dukkha, death is dukkha, sorrow and lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are dukkha, association with the unloved or unpleasant condition is dukkha, separation from the beloved or pleasant condition is dukkha, not to get what one wants is dukkha.”