The Anuruddhasutta on the Venerated Anuruddha (vegan), Part 1 of 2

Today we are pleased to present the Anuruddhasutta, a Theravada Buddhist sutra that explains the difference between developing the limitless release of the heart and the expansive release of the heart.

Anuruddhasutta With Anuruddha

“[…] And what is the limitless release of the heart? It’s when a mendicant meditates spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. They meditate spreading a heart full of compassion … They meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing … They meditate spreading a heart full of equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world— abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. This is called the limitless release of the heart.

And what is the expansive release of the heart? It’s when a mendicant meditates focused on pervading the extent of a single tree root as expansive. This is called the expansive release of the heart. Also, a mendicant meditates focused on pervading the extent of two or three tree roots … a single village district … two or three village districts … a single kingdom … two or three kingdoms … this land surrounded by ocean. This too is called the expansive release of the heart. This is a way to understand how these things differ in both meaning and phrasing.

Householder, there are these four kinds of rebirth in a future life. What four? Take someone who meditates focused on pervading ‘limited luminosity.’ When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of limited luminosity. Next, take someone who meditates focused on pervading ‘limitless luminosity.’ When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of limitless luminosity. Next, take someone who meditates focused on pervading ‘corrupted radiance.’

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of corrupted luminosity. Next, take someone who meditates focused on pervading ‘pure radiance’. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of pure luminosity. […]”