5.
The Discourse on Friendliness (First)
125.
"Monks, there are these four persons existing and found in the world.
Which four?
Here, monks, a certain person dwells having pervaded one direction with a mind accompanied by friendliness, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth.
Thus above, below, across, everywhere, and in every respect, he dwells having pervaded the entire world with a mind accompanied by friendliness, extensive, exalted, limitless, without enmity, without ill-will.
He enjoys it, desires it, and finds happiness on account of it.
Established therein, inclined to it, dwelling in it frequently, not fallen away from it, when dying he is reborn in the company of the gods of Brahmā's company.
Monks, for the gods of Brahmā's company, one cosmic cycle is the life-span.
There a worldling, having stayed as long as life lasts, having spent all of whatever is the life-span of those gods, goes to hell, goes to the animal realm, goes to the sphere of ghosts.
But a disciple of the Blessed One, having stayed there as long as life lasts, having spent all of whatever is the life-span of those gods, attains final nibbāna in that very existence.
This, monks, is the distinction, this is the disparity, this is the difference between a learned noble disciple and an ignorant worldling, that is to say, regarding destination and rebirth.
"Furthermore, monks, here a certain person with a mind accompanied by compassion... etc. with a mind accompanied by altruistic joy... etc. dwells having pervaded one direction with a mind accompanied by equanimity, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth. Thus above, below, across, everywhere, and in every respect, he dwells having pervaded the entire world with a mind accompanied by equanimity, extensive, exalted, limitless, without enmity, without ill-will. He enjoys it, desires it, and finds happiness on account of it. Established therein, inclined to it, dwelling in it frequently, not fallen away from it, when dying he is reborn in the company of the Radiant gods. Monks, for the Radiant gods, two cosmic cycles is the life-span... etc. he is reborn in the company of the gods of Streaming Radiance. Monks, for the gods of Streaming Radiance, four cosmic cycles is the life-span... etc. he is reborn in the company of the gods of Great Fruit. Monks, for the gods of Great Fruit, five hundred cosmic cycles is the life-span. There a worldling, having stayed as long as life lasts, having spent all of whatever is the life-span of those gods, goes to hell, goes to the animal realm, goes to the sphere of ghosts. But a disciple of the Blessed One, having stayed there as long as life lasts, having spent all of whatever is the life-span of those gods, attains final nibbāna in that very existence. This, monks, is the distinction, this is the disparity, this is the difference between a learned noble disciple and an ignorant worldling, that is to say, regarding destination and rebirth. These, monks, are the four persons existing and found in the world." The fifth.