[amimabremiBit]

It is clear that the brahmaviharas don't seem to be up to the task of taking a practitioner to nibbana, but it also seems clear that they function quite strongly, opening the door to the jhanas and the formless attainments. Therefore, they seem to be part of the foundation of Sila so essential to Samadhi; indeed, in the Digha Nikaya we find Sila and Panna likened to two hands or two feet which wash each other, and we also find "endurance, harmlessness, and a mind of kindness and sympathy" yoked to satipatthana practice at SN 47.19.