Brahmavihāras loosely translates as ‘divine abidings’. They lead to sublime mental states, and can be very rich and beautiful practices indeed. They’re also called ‘the immeasurables’, as there is no limit to how far you can take them – no limit to how much mettā, karuṇā, muditā and upekkhā you can cultivate, and no limit to how far on the path to Enlightenment they can carry you.

In his lecture A System of Meditation, Sangharakshita says that “the development of positive emotions … is absolutely crucial for our development as individuals”, and the Brahmavihāra meditations are one of the main ways of cultivating positive emotions.