[125] Bhikkhus, these four kinds of persons (puggala) are found existing in the world. Which four?
Here, bhikkhus, a certain person dwells pervading one quarter with a mind (citta) imbued with loving-kindness (mettā), likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, across, everywhere, and to all as to himself, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with loving-kindness — abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without enmity, without ill will. He relishes that, desires it, and finds satisfaction in it. Steady in that, resolved upon it, dwelling frequently in it, not having fallen away from it, when he dies he is reborn in companionship with the devas of Brahmā's company (Brahmakāyikā). Bhikkhus, the life span of the devas of Brahmā's company is an aeon (kappa). There the worldling (puthujjana) remains for the full life span, and having exhausted the entire life span of those devas, he goes to hell (niraya), he goes to the animal realm, he goes to the realm of hungry ghosts. But the disciple of the Blessed One, having remained there for the full life span, having exhausted the entire life span of those devas, attains final Nibbāna in that very same existence. This, bhikkhus, is the distinction, this is the disparity, this is the difference between the instructed noble disciple (ariyasāvaka) and the uninstructed worldling, that is, when there is a destination, a rebirth.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, here a certain person dwells pervading one quarter with a mind imbued with compassion (karuṇā), likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, across, everywhere, and to all as to himself, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with compassion — abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without enmity, without ill will. He relishes that, desires it, and finds satisfaction in it. Steady in that, resolved upon it, dwelling frequently in it, not having fallen away from it, when he dies he is reborn in companionship with the Ābhassara devas. Bhikkhus, the life span of the Ābhassara devas is two aeons. There the worldling remains for the full life span, and having exhausted the entire life span of those devas, he goes to hell, he goes to the animal realm, he goes to the realm of hungry ghosts. But the disciple of the Blessed One, having remained there for the full life span, having exhausted the entire life span of those devas, attains final Nibbāna in that very same existence. This, bhikkhus, is the distinction, this is the disparity, this is the difference between the instructed noble disciple and the uninstructed worldling, that is, when there is a destination, a rebirth.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, here a certain person dwells pervading one quarter with a mind imbued with altruistic joy (muditā), likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, across, everywhere, and to all as to himself, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with altruistic joy — abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without enmity, without ill will. He relishes that, desires it, and finds satisfaction in it. Steady in that, resolved upon it, dwelling frequently in it, not having fallen away from it, when he dies he is reborn in companionship with the Subhakiṇha devas. Bhikkhus, the life span of the Subhakiṇha devas is four aeons. There the worldling remains for the full life span, and having exhausted the entire life span of those devas, he goes to hell, he goes to the animal realm, he goes to the realm of hungry ghosts. But the disciple of the Blessed One, having remained there for the full life span, having exhausted the entire life span of those devas, attains final Nibbāna in that very same existence. This, bhikkhus, is the distinction, this is the disparity, this is the difference between the instructed noble disciple and the uninstructed worldling, that is, when there is a destination, a rebirth.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, here a certain person dwells pervading one quarter with a mind imbued with equanimity (upekkhā), likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, across, everywhere, and to all as to himself, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with equanimity — abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without enmity, without ill will. He relishes that, desires it, and finds satisfaction in it. Steady in that, resolved upon it, dwelling frequently in it, not having fallen away from it, when he dies he is reborn in companionship with the Vehapphala devas. Bhikkhus, the life span of the Vehapphala devas is five hundred aeons. There the worldling remains for the full life span, and having exhausted the entire life span of those devas, he goes to hell, he goes to the animal realm, he goes to the realm of hungry ghosts. But the disciple of the Blessed One, having remained there for the full life span, having exhausted the entire life span of those devas, attains final Nibbāna in that very same existence. This, bhikkhus, is the distinction, this is the disparity, this is the difference between the instructed noble disciple and the uninstructed worldling, that is, when there is a destination, a rebirth.
These, bhikkhus, are the four kinds of persons found existing in the world.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.