brahma-vihāra
brahma-vihāra：the 4 'Sublime' or 'Divine Abodes'，also called the 4 Boundless States （appamaññā），are：Loving-kindness （mettā），Compassion （karuṇā），Altruistic （or sympathetic） Joy （muditā ），Equanimity （upekkhā）．
The stereotype text on the development of these 4 sublime abodes （brahma-vihāra-bhāvanā; s．bhāvanā），often met with in the Suttas ，- is as follows：＂'There，o monks，the monk with a mind full of loving-kindness pervading first one direction，then a second one，then a third one，then the fourth one，just so above，below and all around; and everywhere identifying himself with all，he is pervading the whole world with mind full of loving-kindness，with mind wide，developed，unbounded，free from hate and ill-will．＂ Hereafter follows the same theme with compassion，altruistic joy，and equanimity．
Literature：Detailed explanation in Vis．M．IX．- For texts s．＂Path＂，97ff; texts on mettā in The Practice of Loving Kindness，by Ñāṇamoli Thera （WHEEL 7）．- The Four Sublime States，by Ñaṇaponika Thera （WHEEL 6）．- Brahma Vihāra，by Narada Thera （Vajirarama，Colombo，1962）．