Loving-kindness ☀️ bright
In The Path of Dhamma (Dhammapada)
DhammaPada verses 197-208 describe the happiness of those who live without hatred, affliction, and anxiety. It includes poetic verses on happiness and Nibbāna, and emphasizes seeing, dwelling, and association with the wise, Noble Ones.
Dhammapada verses 256-272 emphasize the qualities that define true wisdom, nobility, and spiritual attainment. These verses critique superficial markers such as age, outward appearance, or rituals. The chapter underscores the importance of avoiding harm, evaluating actions with discernment, and not resting content until there is the complete elimination of mental defilements.
Dhammapada verses 360–382 depict the ideal bhikkhu as one who restrains the senses, body, speech, and mind, leading to freedom from suffering. Emphasis is placed on mindfulness, inner joy, collectedness, and self-reliance. Through discipline and reflection, the bhikkhu advances towards the peace of Nibbāna, shining like the moon freed from clouds.
Dhammapada verses 383–423 redefine 'Brāhmaṇa' (sage) by inner attainment, not birth or appearance. Through effort, a true sage cuts craving, understands reality, and realizes Nibbāna. Fearless, detached, pure, and restrained, they embody non-violence and patience. Free from defilements and attachments, having overcome suffering and rebirth, the sage achieves the ultimate goal, radiating wisdom and peace.
In As It Was Said (Itivuttaka)
The Buddha describes the three kinds of good conduct - by body, speech and mind.
The Buddha describes the three kinds of purity - by body, speech and mind.
The Buddha describes the three kinds of sagacity - by body, speech and mind.
The three unwholesome thoughts are blinding, produce lack of clarity, cause ignorance, obstruct wisdom, and are troublesome and not conducive to Nibbāna. The three wholesome thoughts give sight, produce clarity and create insight, grow wisdom, and are trouble-free and conducive to Nibbāna.
The Buddha teaches that one could be far from him despite being physically close, and one could be near to him despite being physically far. When one sees the Dhamma, one sees the Buddha.
The Buddha describes the fires of passion, hatred, and illusion which consume beings who cling to a self. The wise cool these flames with wisdom, loving-kindness, and perceiving unattractiveness.
The Buddha describes the further training guideline on how to practice the Dhamma while walking, standing, sitting, and lying down for bhikkhus who are virtuous, and accomplished in the moral code of conduct.
In Middle Length Discourses (Majjhima Nikāya)
The Buddha explains to the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi how he overcame fright and dread while practicing seclusion in remote lodgings in the forests and woodlands, leading to the three true knowledges and full awakening.
The Buddha uses the simile of a defiled cloth to explain how the mind can be similarly defiled by various impurities, and how it can be purified by abandoning them. And it is through this very practice that one arrives at unshakeable faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha. The Buddha also addresses a brahmin in verses who believes in purification by bathing in river.
The Buddha distinguishes peaceful abidings in the here and now from the way of effacement leading upwards to complete quenching. Effacement is shown as the gradual chipping away of defilements through restraint, cultivation of the noble eightfold path, and diligent training, culminating in the complete freedom of Nibbāna.
The Buddha explains to Jīvaka the circumstances in which meat may be consumed and the demerit of slaughtering living beings for the Tathāgata or his disciples.
The Buddha instructs Rāhula on how to regard the five aggregates as not-self which he immediately applies to practice. The Buddha then teaches Rāhula on how to meditate on the elements, the divine abodes, unattractiveness, impermanence, and mindfulness of breathing to abandon unwholesome mental qualities and cultivate wholesome mental qualities.
The young brahmin Subha questions the Buddha about whether householders or renunciants are superior and what brings the greatest merit. The Buddha explains that he evaluates actions with discernment, and then teaches the path to companionship with Brahmā through cultivation of the qualities of loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity.
In Linked Discourses (Saṃyutta Nikāya)
The Buddha explains how thoughts of sensuality, ill will, and harming arise from a cause and how to abandon them.
The Buddha explains in detail each factor of the noble eightfold path—right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right collectedness.
In Numerical Discourses (Aṅguttara Nikāya)
The Buddha explains what causes the hindrances to arise and how to abandon them.
The Buddha explains the importance of developing a radiant mind, a mind of loving-kindness and the consequences of negligence, diligence, and laziness.
The Buddha describes the foremost of his female lay disciples in various categories.
Five factors of well-spoken speech are - 1) It is spoken at the proper time, 2) truthfully, 3) gently, 4) in a way that benefits, and 5) spoken with a mind of loving-kindness.
Eight benefits of cultivating loving-kindness from sleeping with ease to fire, poison, and weapons not harming one to going to the Brahma world.
11 benefits of cultivating loving-kindness from sleeping with ease to dying unconfused to going to the Brahma world.