About heartfulness and the 4 heart qualities
In this heartfulness module we are no longer in one of the 4 extreme directions of the wheel: the north where the mental is located and where we search for the wisdom of the heart in heartfulness through meditation. Not even in the South, the emotional field, with which we also connect at the heart level and learn to distinguish what belongs to emotions and what belongs to the loving heart. Nor in the East, the spiritual, intuitive field where we connect with the energetic field of the heart. And also not in the West, the physical plane, where we can also place the heart with all its physical aspects and changes that happen when we meditate.
But now we are in the center of the wheel of life, the core, the pupil of the eye so to speak, where our core qualities can be found such as: justice, honesty, virtue, love, forgiveness, gratitude, sense of beauty… At the heart level, we can also discover core qualities. Buddhism has known the heart qualities, Brahma-Vihara, for a long time: the four qualities of the heart.
Brahma Vihara, the four qualities of the heart: Loving-kindness, Compassion, Compassion and Equanimity
Literally, Brahma means ‘Divine’ and Vihara means ‘abode’. And because one then speaks of 4 qualities, these are translated as ‘the four Divine dwelling places in the heart’. It is also often translated as “the four exalted states of the mind” or “the four sublime states” or simply the four heart qualities.
The four Brahma Vihara are:
- Metta: Loving-kindness > unconditional love for yourself and all beings
- Karuna: Compassion > warm feeling of care for others and commitment to alleviate their suffering
- Mudita: Altruistic joy > genuine happiness with the happiness, success, or well-being of others
- Upekkha: Equanimity > Accepting life as it unfolds. For yourself and others
Loving-kindness (Metta)
Loving-kindness, also known as Metta, is an unconditional and universal love that extends to all living things. It is the ability to be kind and caring to ourselves and others. Without judgment or expectations. Loving-kindness is about nurturing a deep wish for all beings to be happy and free from suffering.
Compassion (Karuna)
Compassion, or Karuna, is a word that rarely appears in our language. It is also often mistranslated. Compassion in English is compassion, which is literally translated into Dutch as compassion and of course means pity!. But pity in English is pity.
Buddhism assumes that people suffer because they do not know and do not have a clear view of who they are, of what is really going on with existence. From there arises the impulse, the desire to help the others awaken from their illusions.
Compassion is not the same as pity, which is passive sympathy. Compassion is an active force, which really helps the other person with words and deeds from a deep empathy. Compassion is the ability to feel the suffering of others and have the desire to alleviate this suffering.
Fellow Joy (Mudita)
Joy is the third of the brahma vihara, in Sanskrit it is called mudita. It’s a bit like the counterpart of compassion. Compassion starts from the perception of the suffering of others and wants to reduce it. Fellow joy focuses on the happiness of others, and rejoices in that happiness, in that joy.
Medejoy, or Mudita, is the ability to genuinely rejoice for the happiness and success of others. It is the opposite of envy and jealousy. Fellow joy is about celebrating the achievements and happiness of others without comparison or competition.
Equanimity (Upekkha)
Equanimity, or Upekkha, can be seen as the balance, the equilibrium, that allows us to be present in all circumstances and continue to open our hearts. The quality of staying balanced, no matter what. A rock in the surf. It is a mental state of balance and calm, in which there is no attachment to feelings, nor thoughts, nor all kinds of circumstances. It’s about accepting what is, without being carried away by emotions or attachment to expectations.
What will you learn?
Practical info
On 6 consecutive evenings from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Dates to follow…
Location: Levensstroom Overheulestraat 237 8560 MoorseleThis module can also be followed online. Please report this when registering in the field “Is there anything else you want the trainer to know?”
Price240 € including workbook, exercises that can be downloaded digitally, coffee, tea, fruit, delicacies,. lunch, Morning Flow sessions, online via Zoom, every last Sunday of the month from 11 am to 12:30 pm.
Guidance Dirk Vieren Registration: Registration form Interested?Do you have any questions or are you interested? Send me a e-mail.
