“Dhanañjāni, which do you think is better: hell or the animal realm?” “The animal realm is better.” “Which do you think is better: the animal realm or the ghost realm?” “The ghost realm is better.” “Which do you think is better: the ghost realm or human life?” “Human life is better.” “Which do you think is better: human life or as one of the gods of the four great kings?” “The gods of the four great kings.” “Which do you think is better: the gods of the four great kings or the gods of the thirty-three?” “The gods of the thirty-three.” “Which do you think is better: the gods of the thirty-three or the gods of Yama?” “The gods of Yama.” “Which do you think is better: the gods of Yama or the joyful gods?” “The joyful gods.” “Which do you think is better: the joyful gods or the gods who love to create?” “The gods who love to create.” “Which do you think is better: the gods who love to create or the gods who control what is created by others?” “The gods who control what is created by others.”

“Which do you think is better: the gods who control what is created by others or the realm of divinity?” “Worthy Sāriputta speaks of the realm of divinity! Worthy Sāriputta speaks of the realm of divinity!” Then Sāriputta thought: “These brahmins are devoted to the realm of divinity. Why don’t I teach him a path to the company of Divinity?” “Dhanañjāni, I shall teach you a path to the company of Divinity. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, worthy sir,” replied Dhanañjāni. Venerable Sāriputta said this:

“And what is a path to company with Divinity? Firstly, a mendicant meditates spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. This is a path to company with Divinity.