Four Limitless Contemplations

Rinpoche talks about the Four Immeasurables, or the Four Limitless Contemplations, which are:

1. May all beings be happy and create the causes of happiness.This aspect cultivates limitless love.

2. May they all be free from suffering and from creating the causes of suffering. This aspect cultivates limitless compassion.

3. May they attain that sacred happiness which can never be tainted by suffering. This aspect cultivates sympathetic joy.

4. May they experience universal, impartial compassion free of attachment to loved ones and aversion to others. This aspect cultivates equanimity.

Photography thanks to Dr Conrad Harvey and Peter Budd.

A SUMMARY
by Maggy Jones

Part 1

Sem chen tham che dewa dang dewai gyu dang den par gyur chig
     ‘May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.’

Sem chen tham che duk ngel dang duk ngel gyi gyu dang drel war gyur chig
     ‘May all sentient beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.’

Sem chen tham che duk ngel me pai dewa dang mi drel war gyur chig
     ‘May all sentient beings not be separated from the happiness that is free from suffering.’

Sem chen tham che nye ring chak dang nyi dang drel wai tang nyöm la ne par gyur chig
     ‘May all sentient beings abide in equanimity, free from bias, attachment and anger.’

Translation by John Tasevski, South Carolina Dharma Group

The Four Limitless Contemplations *  (the four Brahmavihara) (Skt,) are to train our mind. If we can find the motivation to train in these four, we travel along the Bodhisattva path. With this attitude you cannot accumulate negative karma, you will bring benefit to others, and to yourself. Sem chem tam che means all beings with a mind. Rinpoche goes through the verse line by line.

Why is it important to think like this? If someone was unkind to you, would you like it? If you don’t, then don’t retaliate and try to create happiness instead and all will benefit; feel more kindly to others and have good relationships. Bollywood films focus on happy endings! Education focus is on competition to be the best; if we encouraged people to be the kindest surely there would be a better society? If everything is based on competition who is our friend? The unconditional love of a mother.   Q & A

Part 2

The difference between loving-kindness and compassion is with loving-kindness you wish beings happiness; with compassion you wish beings free from problems. “Suffering” means anything unpleasant – physical and emotional. “I don’t want this and neither does any other being”. We wish that they could be free.

Sometimes those who inflict pain do this from fear or confusion. Anger is pointless; the only way we can stop them is by transforming them otherwise they will continue life after life. Jataka tale about the hermit, the Queens, and their King. With that level of compassion you will help all beings. It must be done like this until not even one being is left suffering. Remember, it is all beings not just those on this earth or within this solar system. There are thousands. Remember we have all been connected in our past lives and all deserve our compassion. When you visualise the Refuge tree put all the problem people in the front. For enlightenment we need to accumulate wisdom and compassion. This 4 line prayer is the best method to accumulate compassion and counter the kleshas (mind poisons).   Q & A

Part 3

Usually when you treat people well, they will respond with warmth but not always. Sometimes they will respond in the opposite way; accept this, but continue to be kind. This is the real test of you practice. They are your trainers! Usually we can feel sympathy when someone has a bad shock, but how much do we feel if we are already jealous of that person? “if you want to be always happy – then rejoice! If you want to be unhappy all the time then feel jealous!” Story about Rinpoche’s experience of the very positive benefits of harmony at work. Harmony brings this Joy. Story about how a generous reaction to a car crash changed a life. Therefore, rejoicing. Story of acquiring land and the karma involved. Rejoicing in other’s good fortune brings merit to all.    Q & A

Part 4

Equanimity here means free from aversion and attachment; as long as we have these two, we have a bias. “Equanimity” means we feel kindness and compassion to all beings – not just the ones we sympathise with. 2 kinds of sensitivity – one awareness of others’ feelings, the other focussed on yourself and the more you can reduce this, the more peaceful and joyful you will become. True Equanimity comes when you understand wisdom and your true nature. The nature of a river – always changing but always a river. Rebirth is possible because everything is always coming, growing and dying – changing all the time. We must see our life as a dream – it happens but goes. The whole prayer is “May all beings achieve enlightenment!” This way you will never get “burned out”!

Remember “all beings” includes yourself! Achieving this will not be quick; we have had our habits for many lifetimes; have patience with your practice. Indian system of counting “countless eons”. Time is relative.   Q & A

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