Buddhism begins with the Brahmaviharas, and Buddhism seals all its great teachings with the Brahmaviharas.

Tevijja Sutta and the Four Brahmaviharas

Tevijja Sutta

Clarification questions

1. Q: What are the three vedas?
2. A: “A large body of religious texts originating in ancient India”
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas
4. Q: Who is Gautama?
5. A: The Buddha
6. Q: What is the Brahmins caste?
7. A: Priesthood
8. Q: Why did Brahmins consider themselves superior to everyone?
9. A: They thought they were more holy
   
10. Q: What are the three sets of instructions?
11. A: On morality, concentration and wisdom
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Questions about the sutta:

1. Q: What happens in the beginning of the sutta?
2. Q: What does the Buddha’s question allow the two young brahmins to shed?
3. Q: What is the meaning of “Then the Buddha asserts that the knowledge of people preaching what neither they nor their teachers have learned from personal experience is unfounded. They themselves are like a procession of blind people leading each other”
4. Q: What is the meaning of this? “Then the Buddha gives an example of a man approaching the river Acharavati and asking and praying for the other side of the river to come to him. Will the other side of the river come to this man because of his prayers and requests?”
5. Q: Does Brahma have any property? Is Brahma hostile in thought? Is Brahma defiled (by sensual desires)? Is Brahma in control of himself (composed)?”
6. Q: Did those qualities manifest among brahmins who preach the Three Vedas?
7. Q: Can the brahmins, having such qualities, unite with Brahma after death? or is it impossible?
8. Q: Do the three Vedas lead to liberation? What does the Buddha compare relying on them to?
9. Q: Does the Buddha know the path leading to union with Brahma?
10. Q: What is the state of a person who has realized the three sets of instructions in his behaviour of the body, mind and speech?
11. Q: What are the four Brahmaviharas? Metta, karuna, mudita, upekkha (kindness, compassion, joy in the company of virtuous friends, and serenity)
12. Q: What does it mean that the Buddha leaves the house alone and replaces its columns?

The Four Brahmaviharas
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Questions:

1. What are the four Brahmaviharas?
2. What are the names of the four Brahmaviharas in Pali?
3. What does each Brahmavihara suppress?
4. What may each Brahmavihara devolve into (a brahmavihara devolves when it loses connection with the other brahmaviharas)?