Gatherings
08 March
Javier García Campayo
The Four Immeasurable or Brahmaviharas
- Saturday, 8 March 2025 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM
- Location: Espai Buit
Summary
"The Four Immeasurable or Brahmaviharas (a Sanskrit term referring to four meditation practices and attitudes, often translated as the “four divine emotions”) are forms of generative and absorptive meditation that originated within the three Hindu religions (Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism). Their components are common to all spiritual traditions. They are called Brahmaviharas (vihara = dwelling of the supreme god Brahma in Hinduism), because the joy that arises from their practice is said to resemble that experienced by this deity in his heavenly realm.
They are immeasurable because the emotions cultivated are sublime 1) Loving-kindness, 2) Compassion, 3) Joy for other beings’ happiness, and 4) Equanimity. They are immeasurable also because they apply to all beings without exception."
"This workshop will be primarily practical, supported by a theoretical foundation. We will explore the four Brahmaviharas as they are traditionally practiced, progressing through four increasingly profound phases:
1.- DISCURSIVE PHASE: We will reflect on the benefits of each practice and the so-called “far enemy” (what is clearly opposed), and “near enemy” (what is confused with it, but is not).
2.- USE OF PHRASES: Repeating specific phrases designed to evoke the emotion.
3.- USE OF IMAGES: Visualising images that evoke the emotion.
4.- ABSORPTION PHASE: Entering a meditative state of full immersion in the emotion itself, with a special focus on the bodily component, and the inherent beauty of the process, including the loss of the subject-object distinction.
The workshop is based on the book:
García Campayo, Javier. ""The Quintessence of Meditation: The Brahmaviharas"". Kairós, Barcelona, 2024."
Saturday, 8 March 2025 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Bio
Espai Buit
