Brahma-vihara
Okay, kiddo, brahma-vihara is a big word that means "divine abodes" or "supreme emotions" in a language called Pali. It refers to four special feelings that are really important in Buddhist practice.
The first feeling is called metta, which means loving-kindness. It's like the warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you hug your favorite stuffed animal or pet. Metta means wishing everyone in the world to be happy and free from suffering, just like you want to be happy yourself.
The second feeling is karuna, or compassion. It's when you feel sad for someone who is hurt or going through a tough time, and you want to help them feel better. Karuna means wanting to relieve the suffering of others.
The third feeling is mudita, or empathetic joy. This is when you feel happy for someone else's happiness, like when your best friend gets a new toy or a good grade on a test. Mudita means rejoicing in the good fortune of others.
The fourth feeling is upekkha, or equanimity. This one can be a little tricky to understand, but it means staying calm and balanced even when things are going really well or really badly. Upekkha means having an even mind, and not letting your emotions control you.
So, brahma-vihara is like a big umbrella that covers all these four emotions. It's important to develop these feelings in ourselves so that we can become happier, less selfish, and more compassionate people. And when we feel these things towards others, it can make their lives better too.
The first feeling is called metta, which means loving-kindness. It's like the warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you hug your favorite stuffed animal or pet. Metta means wishing everyone in the world to be happy and free from suffering, just like you want to be happy yourself.
The second feeling is karuna, or compassion. It's when you feel sad for someone who is hurt or going through a tough time, and you want to help them feel better. Karuna means wanting to relieve the suffering of others.
The third feeling is mudita, or empathetic joy. This is when you feel happy for someone else's happiness, like when your best friend gets a new toy or a good grade on a test. Mudita means rejoicing in the good fortune of others.
The fourth feeling is upekkha, or equanimity. This one can be a little tricky to understand, but it means staying calm and balanced even when things are going really well or really badly. Upekkha means having an even mind, and not letting your emotions control you.
So, brahma-vihara is like a big umbrella that covers all these four emotions. It's important to develop these feelings in ourselves so that we can become happier, less selfish, and more compassionate people. And when we feel these things towards others, it can make their lives better too.