The Four Immeasurables: Cultivating A Boundless Heart

by B. Alan Wallace

This book is a rich suite of practices that open the heart, counter the distortions in our relationships to ourselves, and deepen our relationship to others.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction, Self Help, Meditation

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

Reviews

[Ulf Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Theravada Buddhist whose practice is centered on Ānāpānasati. Most of what I read is Theravada oriented, such as the Pali Canon, etc.; with one exception: B. Alan Wallace (Buddhist with a strong Tibetan orientation).

I have read several of his books and I greatly enjoy his scholarship and very great scope of knowledge—including insights about the Theravada tradition as well. I just finished The Four Immeasurables and I will gladly share that it is my favorite of B. Alan Wallace books read so far.

An interesting point about this books is that less than half of the book is dedicated to the four immeasurables, Shamatha is given more than equal billing along with some very interesting questions and answers where I feel Wallace shines.

The Shamatha portion that opens the book (the first 80+ pages) is a beautiful overview of the Tibetan approach to concentration leading all the way up to, but not including, the first Jhāna. The next 80 pages concern loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, i.e., the four; and he treats them beautifully. He then rounds the book out with a very trenchant chapter on the Empowerment of Insight, which on its own is worth the fee of admission.

Buy this book. Read it. Cherish it. You will not regret it.

[A.B. McFarland · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the title you might think this is going to be sappy, superficial book, but nothing can be farther from the truth. The four immeasurable qualities (lovingkindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity) cannot surface fully unless we can understand and soften the unsavory tendencies that keep us from these positive feelings. I especially enjoyed his descriptions of the near and far enemies of the four immeasurables, because sometimes it is easier to learn about something by getting a grip on what it is not.

Far enemy of lovingkindness is hatred and contempt, near enemy is desire.
Far enemy of compassion is cruelty, near enemy is grief.
Far enemy of sympathetic joy is cynicism and despair; near enemy is frivolity.
Far enemy of equanimity is attraction and revulsion; near enemy is stupid indifference.

I also learned a lot about shamatha and even about shunyata from this book.

An easy but thought provoking book (the best kind, in my opinion).

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

B. Alan Wallace is a serious Buddhist practitioner and student. He spent years as the interpreter for the Dalai Lama so his credentials are pretty impeccable. Although his writing style is bare and rather dry, the content of the book is valuable. His discussion of lovingkindness is one of the best I've ever read.

[Max Nemtsov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Очень полезный курс молодого бойца, буквально пошаговая инструкция к некоторым практикам и, что немаловажно, совершенно в синхроне с внутренней динамикой читателя. К этому учебнику медитации, чувствую я, еще не раз предстоит вернуться.

[Laura Freeland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several sections are dense, but I loved the intro and chapters on the four immesaurables: loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity. In some parts it is difficult to fully comprehend and other parts are beautifully written in a fashion anyone can understand.

I am guessing this is a book you can read again and again.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really clear explanation of meditation, and succinct overviews of the four immeasurables - loving kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity.

[Hollis Fishelson-holstine · Rating 3 out of 5]

One more view into how to achieve my aspirations for living a Boddhisatva
read again

[Alessia Garelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

My brain is melting so much! Hope to be able to assimilate these dogmas as long as possible. I will keep reading it for the time being and I am sure I will understand a bit more each time...

[Eugene Pustoshkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Приятная книга, содержащая краткое пояснение по состояниям-стадиям медитации сосредоточения (шаматхи) и медитациям на культивирование четыре безмерных (безмерную любящую доброту, безмерное сострадание, безмерное сорадование и безмерную равностность). Уоллес даёт несколько мощных визуализаций.

Мне немного не хватило глубины описания четырёх безмерных (за исключением сильного описания сострадания). Хотелось бы больше погружения в эту практику с позиций изначального сознавания, как оно описывается в дзогчен и махамудре.

Перевод весьма хороший, несмотря на наличие некоторых архаизмов (таких, как «самоцвет», «ведение»). Понравился перевод слова wellbeing как «благобытие».

[Enric Coll Vilella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imprescindible para entrar en la práctica de los Cuatro Inconmensurables!

[Nastassja Piletskaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Доступная и понятная инструкция по шаматхе. Через понятный подход к медитации книга учит прощать, любить, принимать.

Буду перечитывать, чтобы больше практиковать.

[Harry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dry platitudes of insignificant depth. I’m unconvinced by the two dimensional perspective of the mind presented, will keep looking.

Best read selectively. Written from a weeks worth of apparently verbal teachings without the necessary editing to tighten points.

Edit: I wanted to check I wasn’t being too harsh so I revisited. Had another crack at chapter on compassion. 4 pages in, still trying to get to a definition of it. I was _far_ too generous with my 2 star rating 😄

[Renate Eveline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is based on a series of lectures given by Wallace. According to its cover it should be a very accesible and practical book.
I don't fully agree.
Wallace tries to make Tibetan buddhist philosphy less enigmatic for westerners and comes a long way. But it took me quite a bit of attention to grasp the concepts and the terminology, this is not a bedside table book in which I can easily read a few pages before going to sleep. I tried, but had to re-read the lot the next time.
He gives good, practical suggestions for practicing and cultivating lovingkindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity. I wouldn't recommended as an introductory book on these four immeasurables, though.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on the Four Immeasurables, very readable and has practical application.

[Rubi]

Very good.

[Mark Gelula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has a carefully written series of chapters on the practice of Shamata, which should be practiced before practicing the Four Immeasurables. I am on the final instructions of those practices.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a manual of how to reach the samadhi state - easily explained but this is like the preface of a Bible. Just the first step. Good luck readers