"Monks, I don't speak of the wiping out of intentional acts that
have been done & accumulated without [their results] having
been experienced, either in the here & now or in a further
state hereafter. Nor do I speak of the act of putting an end to
suffering and stress without having experienced [the results of]
intentional acts that have been done & accumulated.[1]
"That disciple of the noble ones — thus devoid of covetousness,
devoid of ill will, unbewildered, alert, mindful — keeps pervading
the first direction[2] with an awareness imbued with good will, likewise
the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth. Thus above,
below, & all around, everywhere, in its entirety, he keeps
pervading the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness imbued with
good will — abundant, expansive, immeasurable, without hostility,
without ill will. He discerns, 'Before, this mind of mine was
limited & undeveloped. But now this mind of mine is
immeasurable & well developed. And whatever action that was
done in a measurable way does not remain there, does not linger
there.'
"What do you think, monks: If that youth, from childhood, were
to develop the awareness-release through good will, would he do any
evil action?"
"No, lord."
"Not doing any evil action, would he touch suffering?"
"No, lord, for when one does no evil action, from where would he
touch suffering?"
"This awareness-release through good will should be developed
whether one is a woman or a man. Neither a woman nor a man can go
taking this body along. Death, monks, is but a gap of a thought
away. One [who practices this awareness-release] discerns,
'Whatever evil action has been done by this body born of action,
that will all be experienced here [in this life]. It will not come
to be hereafter.' Thus developed, the awareness-release through
good will leads to non-returning for the monk who has gained gnosis
here and has penetrated to no higher release.
"That disciple of the noble ones — thus devoid of covetousness,
devoid of ill will, unbewildered, alert, mindful — keeps pervading
the first direction with an awareness imbued with compassion...
"That disciple of the noble ones — thus devoid of covetousness,
devoid of ill will, unbewildered, alert, mindful — keeps pervading
the first direction with an awareness imbued with
appreciation...
"That disciple of the noble ones — thus devoid of covetousness,
devoid of ill will, unbewildered, alert, mindful — keeps pervading
the first direction with an awareness imbued with equanimity,
likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth. Thus
above, below, & all around, everywhere, in its entirety, he
keeps pervading the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness
imbued with equanimity — abundant, expansive, immeasurable, without
hostility, without ill will. He discerns, 'Before, this mind of
mine was limited & undeveloped. But now this mind of mine is
immeasurable & well developed. And whatever action that was
done in a measurable way does not remain there, does not linger
there.'
"What do you think, monks: If that youth, from childhood, were
to develop the awareness-release through equanimity, would he do
any evil action?"
"No, lord."
"Not doing any evil action, would he touch suffering?"
"No, lord, for when one does no evil action, from where would he
touch suffering?"
"This awareness-release through equanimity should be developed
whether one is a woman or a man. Neither a woman nor a man can go
taking this body along. Death, monks, is but a gap of a thought
away. One [who practices this awareness-release] discerns,
'Whatever evil action has been done by this body born of action,
that will all be experienced here [in this life]. It will not come
to be hereafter.' Thus developed, the awareness-release through
equanimity leads to non-returning for the monk who has gained
gnosis here and has penetrated to no higher release."
