Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 191is called the practising of it. The non-manifestation of non-advantage is itssalient characteristic. Happiness is its function. Harmlessness 1 is its manifestation.Its benefits are equal to those of loving-kindness.What is the procedure ? The new yogin enters into a place of solitudeand sits down with mind collected and undisturbed. If he sees or hears of aperson stricken with disease, or a person affected by decay, or a personwho is full of greed, he considers thus: "That person is stricken withsuffering. How will he escape suffering?". 2 And again, if he sees or hearsof a person of perverted mind and bound with the defilements, or a personentering into ignorance, or one, who, having done merit in the past does notnow train himself, he considers thus: "That person is stricken with suffering;he will fare ill. How will he escape suffering?". 3 And again, if he sees orhears of a person who follows demeritorious doctrines and does not followmeritorious doctrines, or of a person who follows undesirable doctrines anddoes not follow desirable doctrines, he considers thus: "That person isstricken with suffering; he will fare ill. How will he escape suffering?". 4That yogin by these means and through these activities develops thethought of compassion for these persons and repeats it. Having by these meansand through these activities developed the thought of compassion and repeatedit, he makes his mind pliant, and capable of bearing the object. Thereafterhe gradually develops (compassion) for an indifferent person and an enemy.The rest is as was fully taught above. Thus he fills the four directions.Q. What is the fulfilment of compassion and what, non-fulfilment?A. When a man fulfils compassion, he separates from harming and fromkilling. He is not afflicted. He separates from impure affection. Throughtwo causes compassion is not fulfilled: through resentment produced withinhimself and through affliction.Q. All do not suffer. Suffering does not prevail always. Then how isit possible to compassionate all beings ? A. As all beings have at some previoustime experienced suffering, they can grasp the sign well and practise compassion1. Ahimsd, avihirhsa. (a) A. I, 151: Sabbhi ddnarh upahhattarh ahimsdsahhamo damo{=Ahimsd ti karund c'eva karund-pubbabhago ca—Mp. II, 250).(b) Sv. Ill, 982: Avihirhsa ti karund karund-pubba-bhagopi. Vuttam pi c'etam: tatthakatamd avihirhd? Yd sattesu karund karundyand karundyitattam karund-cetovimutti,ayarh vuccati avihirhsa ti.(c) Dh. 300: Yesam diva ca ratto ca ahirhsdya rato mano (—Ahimsdya rato ti 'sokarundsahagatena cetasd ekam disarh pharitva viharatV ti evarh vuttaya karundbhavandyarato—Dh.-a. Ill, 459).2. Cp. (a) Pts. I, 128: 'Jardya anusahagato lokasannivdso 9 ti passantanam BuddhanamBhagavantanam sattesu mahdkarund okkamati...i Byddihi abhibhuto lokasannivdso 9 ti... 'Tanhdya uddito lokasannivdso'ti'...(b) S. I, 40: Tanhdya uddito loko, jardya parivdrito.3. Pts. I, 128-9:i Mahdbandhanabandho lokasannivdso... mohabandhanena... kilesbandhanena...tassa nattK anno koci bandham mocetd anhatra maya'ti;... 'tihi duccaritehivippatipanno lokasannivdso' ti passantanam.. .4. Ibid. 129-30: 'Pancahi kdmagunehi rajjati lokasannivdso' ti... 'atfhahi micchattehiniyato lokasannivdso 9 ti...