Friendliness S (mettā) is the first of the four Brahmavihāras, or "divine abodes," in Buddhist meditation. The Pali term mettā derives from the word for "friend" (mitta) and denotes an unconditional, all-encompassing goodwill toward all beings without exception. It is not mere sentiment but a cultivated mental state of active benevolence, systematically developed through meditation.

Position on the Tree of Life

Friendliness S occupies the fourth Sephirah, Chesed (Mercy), on the Tree of Life. Chesed represents expansive love, mercy, and the outflowing of divine grace—qualities that directly mirror the nature of mettā. As the first of the Forty Buddhist Meditations listed in Liber 777, this placement emphasizes that friendliness is the foundational virtue from which other meditative states arise, corresponding to the watery, formative energy of the fourth Sephirah.

Astrological and Planetary Correspondence

Chesed is governed by Jupiter, the planet of expansion, generosity, and beneficence. The astrological correspondence of Friendliness S thus aligns with Jupiterian qualities: boundless goodwill, magnanimity, and the desire to extend happiness to all. In the Buddhist context, mettā meditation is often directed first toward oneself, then toward benefactors, neutral persons, and finally enemies, mirroring the Jupiterian principle of ever-widening circles of compassion.

Historical context

The practice of mettā is rooted in the earliest Buddhist texts, particularly the Mettā Sutta (Sn 1.8) of the Pali Canon, which instructs: "Just as a mother would protect her only child at the risk of her own life, even so, let one cultivate a boundless heart toward all beings." The Visuddhimagga (Path of Purification) by Buddhaghosa (5th century CE) devotes an entire chapter to mettā meditation, detailing its benefits, methods, and the ten obstacles to its development. In the Theravāda tradition, mettā is one of the four "protective meditations" (caturārakkha) used to guard the mind against defilements. The Mahāyāna tradition elevates mettā to a central role in the bodhisattva path, where it is paired with karuṇā (compassion) as the foundation of the vow to liberate all beings. The Tibetan Buddhist lojong (mind training) tradition includes mettā as a core practice for developing bodhicitta. In Liber 777, Friendliness S appears at step 4 (Chesed) within the Forty Buddhist Meditations, where it is the first of the four Brahmavihāras, preceding Compassion S (Binah), Joy S (Chokmah), and Indifference S (Keter). This sequence reflects the Buddhist teaching that mettā is the gateway to the other three immeasurables.

In the table of Liber 777, Friendliness S is the named subject at the intersection of the Forty Buddhist Meditations row (XXIII.*) and the fourth column (Chesed). It stands as the first of the four Brahmavihāras, establishing the foundation for the entire meditative series.