Dear Sayalay Cala,
Welcome to the group! Before I can comment on your question, I'll have to
first do a bit of research on the etymology of the term accoring to the
commentarial and grammatical authorities.
Note to members: having just joined our group yesterday, Sayalay Cala is a
nun from Malaysia who is doing her Master's at the International Theravada
Buddhist Missionary University (ITBMU) in Yangon, Myanmar. "Sayalay" is a
Burmese title like "Sayadaw".
Best wishes,
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "sicala2010@... [palistudy]" <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
To: <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: April 6, 2016 12:17 AM
Subject: [palistudy] Brahmavihārī
Dear all,
I was asked about this word 'Brahmavihārī'.
In the Pali text.
Brahmānaṃ uttamānaṃ vihāro, brahmabhūto vā vihāroti brahmavihāro,
so upekkhābhāvanāvasena catutthajjhāniko
Brahmānaṃ uttamānaṃ vihāro = living of best/noble
Brahmabhūto vā vihāro =living as the state of brahma.
Then from Brahmavihāra, we figure out what is brahmavihārī.
Brahmavihāra+ feminine suffix ī= brahmavihārī
Or
Brahmavihāra + ī (a habit) = brahmavihārī.
Habit means refers to a frequent action, we can translate as “One who uses
to dwell in noble dwelling.”
So, if brahmavihārī refers to a meditation centre, it should be translated
as 'Abode of the Noble”, or “Noble Dwelling”. Or “Dwelling of Supreme Good”.
Any comment on my explanation? thanks.