Four Immeasurables

Translated from
Dīgha Nikāya III #33: Sangiti Suttanta
by
Michael M. Olds

Here friends,
a beggar lives suffusing the first quarter
with thoughts of friendliness;
and so also the second, third, and fourth quarters.

Thus he lives suffusing the world all-over,
all-through,
encompassing all,
above, below and across with thoughts of friendliness.

Thus he lives a suffusing
that is bountiful,
widespread,
immeasurable,
friendly,
without injury.

He lives suffusing the first quarter
with thoughts of sympathy;
and so also the second, third, and fourth quarters.

Thus he lives suffusing the world all-over,
all-through,
encompassing all,
above, below and across with thoughts of sympathy.

Thus he lives a suffusing
that is bountiful,
widespread,
immeasurable,
friendly,
without injury.

He lives suffusing the first quarter
with thoughts of empathy;
and so also the second, third, and fourth quarters.

Thus he lives suffusing the world all-over,
all-through,
encompassing all,
above, below and across with thoughts of empathy.

Thus he lives a suffusing
that is bountiful,
widespread,
immeasurable,
friendly,
without injury.

He lives suffusing the first quarter
with objectively detached thought;
and so also the second, third, and fourth quarters.

Thus he lives suffusing the world all-over,
all-through,
encompassing all,
above, below and across with objectively detached thought.

Thus he lives a suffusing
that is bountiful,
widespread,
immeasurable,
friendly,
without injury.