A course in the Buddhist practice of the brahma viharas, or "heavenly abodes." Detailed instructions from the Buddhist tradition in cultivating mindfulness presented by a prominent Insight Meditation teacher. The four sublime qualities (brahma viharas) that can be cultivated through practice and lead to a life lived with wisdom and love. Also known as the "four immeasurables," they are metta, karuna, mudita, and uppekha, or kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. Many people are familiar with metta, or lovingkindness, meditation, which has become very popular in the last couple decades. But, according to Christina Feldman, to focus on that quality--delightful as it is--is to leave the practice somewhat unbalanced. The four qualities in fact help and balance each other in a way that enhances them all. Christina presents teachings on the brahma viharas along with simple practices that can lead to a life infused with kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, and to a way of being that promotes those qualities in the world at large. About the Author: CHRISTINA FELDMAN is a prominent teacher in the Insight Meditation world in the US and the UK. She is one of the Guiding Teachers of the Insight Meditation Society, Barre, MA, where she frequently leads retreats. She is also cofounder of Gaia House in the UK. She teaches extensively throughout America and Europe. She is the author of The Quest of the Warrior Woman, Principles of Meditation, Heart of Wisdom,Mind of Calm, and, with Jack Kornfield, Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart. |