Translated from the Pali by Ñanamoli Thera from the Anguttara Nikaya of the Tripitaka: AN 4.125
In the teachings, it is said that there is a person who holds within their heart a boundless love, extending it in all directions – to the north, south, east, west, above, below, and to everyone as if they were themselves. This person carries a heart full of love, free from any trace of hostility or ill-will, embracing the entire world.
They derive joy from this loving-kindness, finding it not only pleasant but also essential for their well-being. They remain steadfast and unwavering in this practice, dedicating a significant portion of their life to it. If they pass away without losing this love, they are reborn among the divine beings in a heavenly realm of great purity and splendor.
Now, these divine beings have a lifespan of an entire eon. For an ordinary person who has not yet attained the Noble Eightfold Path, their stay in this heavenly abode lasts for the full extent of the divine lifespan. However, when that divine lifespan is exhausted, the ordinary person may be subjected to various forms of rebirth, such as descent into the realms of suffering, rebirth as an animal, or existence in the ghostly realms. But for the one who has heeded the wisdom of the Perfect One, their residence in this heavenly realm continues for their entire divine lifespan. When this divine lifespan comes to an end, they ultimately reach a state of complete liberation from desire, hatred, and delusion within the same heavenly existence.
This differentiation, the wisdom that distinguishes and elevates the enlightened listener who has reached the Noble Path from the unenlightened, ordinary individual, is evident in the existence of a destination for rebirth after death. The enlightened one, an arahant, has transcended the cycle of birth and death, achieving the ultimate goal of liberation.
Wisdom Tea 