pɹˈaɪɚ tə ðɪ ˈædvɛnt ʌvðə bˈuːdə, ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tə mˈɑːɹtɪn wˈɪltʃɚ, ðə pɹˈiːbˈuːdɪst tɹɐdˈɪʃənz ʌv bɹˈɑːməlˈoʊkə, mˌɛdɪtˈeɪʃən ænd ðiːz fˈoːɹ vˈɜːtʃuːz ɑːɹ ˈɛvɪdənst ɪn bˈoʊθ ˈɜːli bˈuːdɪst ænd nˈɑːnbˈuːdɪst lˈɪɾɚɹᵻtʃɚ.
Prior to the advent of the Buddha, according to Martin Wiltshire, the pre-Buddhist traditions of Brahma-loka, meditation and these four virtues are evidenced in both early Buddhist and non-Buddhist literature.