[383] When this was said, the brahmin student Vāseṭṭha said this to the Blessed One: "I have heard this, worthy Gotama: 'The ascetic Gotama teaches the path to companionship with Brahmā.' It would be good if the worthy Gotama would teach us the path to companionship with Brahmā; may the worthy Gotama uplift the brahmin people."
"Then, Vāseṭṭha, listen and attend well; I will speak."
"Yes, sir," the brahmin student Vāseṭṭha replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"Here, Vāseṭṭha, a Tathāgata arises in the world, an Arahant, a Fully Awakened One … (to be expanded here as in the Sāmaññaphala) … Thus indeed, Vāseṭṭha, a bhikkhu is accomplished in virtue … When he beholds these five hindrances (nīvaraṇa) abandoned in himself, gladness is born; in one who is gladdened, rapture is born; in one whose mind is filled with rapture, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil feels happiness; the mind (citta) of one who is happy becomes concentrated (samādhiyati).
"He dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; thus above, below, across, everywhere, 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. Just as, Vāseṭṭha, a powerful conch-blower might with little difficulty make himself heard in the four directions, even so, Vāseṭṭha, when the liberation of mind by loving-kindness has been developed in this way, whatever action has been done in a limited measure does not remain there, does not persist there. This too, Vāseṭṭha, is a path to companionship with Brahmā."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.