Four Buddhist Virtues: The "Brahma Vihara" - PhillyBlog

Phillybud · #1 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 11:59 AM

Sometimes people are confused by all the numbered aspects of Buddhist teaching: The Three Gems, The Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eightfold Path, etc. The system of making lists and the auspiciousness of numbers are part of Buddhism's foundation in Hindu spirituality.

Indeed, I have often informed non-Buddhists that one cannot fully understand and appreciate Buddhist thought without a foundation in understanding Hinduism. I think it is safe to say that both Christianity and Islam are rooted in Judaism, so you can see that it is the same with Buddhism in relation to Hinduism.

Four Virtues of Buddhism are called "The Brahma Vihara" and they are very beautiful indeed. The words Brahma Vihara mean "The Abode of God" but can also mean something like 'Divine Attributes.' So you see, these are very important concepts are Buddhists are required to cultivate them. They are:

1. Metta - Lovingkindness
2. Karuna - Compassion
3. Mudita - Sympathetic Joy
4. Upekkha - Equanimity

I am sure everyone knows what compassion and lovingkindness are, but what is meant by "sympathetic joy"? It is an ability to derive happiness at the good fortune of another person. It is the opposite of the German word "schadenfreude" - which means attaining glee or pleasure at someone else's misfortune. Sympathetic joy is also the opposite of envy. Finally, equanimity refers to serenity and the acceptence of things that cannot be changed or altered.

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, once summed up the whole philosophy of Buddhism is just four words: "My Religion Is Kindness."

Any questions? Comments? May you and every living creature find happiness, joy and comfort in this world so full of suffering and dissatisfaction.

Phillycatlady · #2 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 03:22 PM

Interesting! Thanks for sharing!

Mixiboi · #3 (**permalink**) 08-24-2008, 06:49 PM

We need alot more of 1, 2, and 3.

phillyaggie · #4 (**permalink**) 08-24-2008, 08:06 PM

hey PhillyBud,

thanks for sharing this info. It is cool that you have such a sound knowledge and understanding of these things, specially the interconnections of Buddhism and Hinduism. Many in the Western nations know about Buddhism but don't have much in-depth understanding of the concepts and how they relate to Hinduism. Unlike Judaism, Hinduism actually shaped Buddhism but also was shaped by Buddhism in return. Many Hindus, for example, believe that Buddha was himself an avatar of Vishnu, and Hinduism moved away from Brahmanism after the advent of the Buddha, for example.

Phillybud · #5 (**permalink**) 08-24-2008, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillyaggie

hey PhillyBud ...
Many Hindus, for example, believe that Buddha was himself an avatar of Vishnu, and Hinduism moved away from Brahmanism after the advent of the Buddha, for example.

Quite true! During one of my trips to India, South Asia, and South East Asia I was inside a Hindu temple ... and guess what??! There was a statue of the seated Buddha on an alter!

Many western people dismiss Hinduism as a polytheistic religion with many, many gods ... not true, because the mystical nature of One God is that there are many aspects of the One God. The "Holy Trinity" of Hinduism is Brahma the Creator, Vishnu who perserves and maintains, and Shiva who destroys and resurrects. Vishnu, Hindus believe, has come down to earth in fifferant forms such as Rama, Krishna, and Buddha.

trisarahtops · #6 (**permalink**) 08-25-2008, 11:36 AM

Pretty interesting...I'm converting!

tenzo · #7 (**permalink**) 08-25-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phillybud

Vishnu, Hindus believe, has come down to earth in fifferant forms such as Rama, Krishna, and Buddha.

Many Hindus believe in Christianity. That Jesus was incarnation of Vishnu. It's somewhat interesting that there appears to be a major religious figure in the world every 500 years (plus or minus 50).

Does Vishnu being Jesus invalidate Hinduism. Not at all. Hinduism is quite encompassing.

Phillybud · #8 (**permalink**) 08-25-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenzo

Many Hindus believe in Christianity. That Jesus was incarnation of Vishnu. It's somewhat interesting that there appears to be a major religious figure in the world every 500 years (plus or minus 50).

Does Vishnu being Jesus invalidate Hinduism. Not at all. Hinduism is quite encompassing.

Jesus appears on earth slightly more than 500 years after the Buddha. Mohammed appears about 500 years after Jesus. More than just co-incidence?

Many scholars believe Jesus spent the "lost years" of his life travelling eastward to Babylonia, Parthia and finally India in order to study the religions and philosophies of the East.

Mixiboi · #9 (**permalink**) 08-25-2008, 08:25 PM

'Yeah, then he turn blue.

phillyaggie · #10 (**permalink**) 08-25-2008, 08:29 PM

It's really not true that Hindus believe that Jesus was a Vishnu avatar. I'm talking about orthodox Hindus here, the ones who have strong beliefs and go to temple on regular basis and such. I'd not put myself in that lot. OTOH, you'll find plenty of those orthodox Hindus who do keep Buddha in high regard. As PhillyBud mentioned, you may even come across a Buddha diety in a Hindu temple. There are no Hindu temples that worship Jesus.

As for claims of Jesus having visited north India/Kashmir during his mysterious 3 years of absence, I don't know if that is something strongly held by anyone. It is possible, though, because "India" and Hindus had far more reach that time than today. All of Afghanistan was part of Hindu India, for example, and many Iranian kingdoms and others actively traded with Hindus. The ancient world's trade routes and the fact that the Hindu/Vedic Civilization was the biggest stretching thousands of miles, do make it feasible that Jesus may have come into contact with Hindu/Buddhist teachings.