Meditative Absorptions (Jhana Sutra)

Dhr. Seven, A. Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly; Ven. Thanissaro (trans.) Jhana Sutra (AN 9.36)

"I say, the end of the defilements depends on the:

1. first absorption...
2. second absorption...
3. third absorption...
4. fourth absorption...
5. the base of boundless space...
6. the base of boundless consciousness...
7. the base of nothingness...
8. the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception.

"I say, 'The end of the defilements depends on the first absorption.' In reference to what is this been said?

"There is an instance in which a meditator, secluded (withdrawn) from sensual distractions, secluded from unskillful states, enters and remains in the first meditative absorption, which is accompanied by rapture and bliss (supersensual pleasure) born of seclusion, which is accompanied by applied and sustained application of attention.
 

"That meditator regards whatever phenomena are connected with [The Five Aggregates or Groups, namely]:

1. form (body),
2. feelings (sensation),
3. perceptions,
4. mental formations (fabrications or mental constructs such as volitions), and
5. consciousness (awareness)

as inconstant, disappointing, a disease, a cancer, an arrow, an affliction, painful, alien, disintegrating, empty, impersonal (not-self).

"Then one's mind/heart turns away from those phenomena, and having done so, it inclines to deathlessness (nirvana, the unconditioned element): 'This is the peace, this is the supreme -- the resolution of all formations, the relinquishing of all acquisitions, the ending of craving, dispassion, cessation, blowing out (quenching, nirvana).'

Hitting the mark (or not "sinning")

 

Did we "sin," Eve? - Serpent says no, Adam.

[NOTE: To sin, an archery metaphor used in Judaism/Christianity, literally means "to miss the mark."]

"Suppose an archer or archer's apprentice were to practice shooting arrows at a straw man or a mound of clay. After a while the archer would be able to shoot long distances, fire accurate shots in rapid succession, and pierce the target.

"In the same way, a meditator... enters and remains in the first absorption, which is accompanied by rapture and bliss (supersensual pleasure) born of seclusion, and accompanied by applied and sustained attention.
 

"One regards whatever phenomena are connected with form, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness as impermanent, painful, a disease, a cancer, an arrow, an affliction, unpleasant, alien, disintegrating, empty, as utterly impersonal (not-self).

"One's mind turns away from those phenomena, and having done so, it  inclines to the deathless: 'This is peace, this is excellent -- the cessation of all fabrications, the letting go of all acquisitions, the ceasing of all craving, dispassion, extinction, quenching (cooling, nirvana).'

 

"Then and there one reaches the end of all defilements [one wins full enlightenment]. Or, if not, then -- through this enthusiasm for the Dharma, this delight in the Dharma, and from the complete wasting away of the first five fetters [self-identity view, clinging to rites and rituals/precepts and practices as if they could in and of themselves bring about enlightenment, skeptical doubt, sensual passion, and aversion] -- one is due to be reborn [in the Pure Abodes], there to be totally liberated, never again to return from that exalted world.
 

"'I tell you, the ending of the defilements depends on the first absorption.' This was said, and with reference to what was this said?

• (The same is then said with regard to the second, third, and fourth absorption).

"'I tell you, the ending of the defilements depends on the base of boundless space.' This was said, and with reference to what was this said? There is an instance where a meditator -- with the complete transcending of perceptions of [physical] form, with the disappearance of perceptions of resistance, and not heeding perceptions of diversity, [perceiving] 'Boundless space' [or with the thought, 'Space is boundless'] -- enters and remains in the base of boundless space.

"One regards whatever phenomena connected with feelings, perceptions, formations, or consciousness as impermanent, unsatisfactory, a disease, a cancer, an arrow, painful, an affliction, alien, disintegrating, empty, as impersonal (not-self). So the mind turns away from such phenomena. And having done so, the mind inclines to the deathless: 'This is peace, this is beautiful -- the resolution of all formations, the relinquishment of all acquisitions, the ending of all craving, dispassion, cessation, quenching (nirvana).'
 

"Suppose that an archer or archer's apprentice were to practice on a straw man or mound of clay. After a while one would become able to shoot long distances, to fire accurate shots in rapid succession, and to pierce the target. In the same way, there is the instance of a meditator... [who] enters and remains in the base of boundless space.

"One regards whatever phenomena there connected with feelings, perceptions, formations, or consciousness as hurtling toward destruction, painful, a disease, a cancer, an arrow, woeful, an affliction, alien, disintegrating, empty, as impersonal (not-self). The mind turns away from such phenomena, and having done so, it inclines to the deathless: 'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all formations, the relinquishment of all acquisitions, the ending of craving, dispassion, cessation, cooling (nirvana).'
 

"Then and there, one reaches the [final] end of the defilements. Or, if not, then -- through this very Dharma-passion, this very Dharma-delight, and from the total subsiding of the first five of the fetters -- one is due to be reborn [in the Pure Abodes], there to be totally unbound, never again to fall from that world.
 

"'I tell you, the ending of the defilements depends on the base of boundless space.' This was said, and in reference to what was this said?

• (Same is said of the bases of boundless consciousness and nothingness).

"Therefore, as far as the perception-attainments go, that is as far as penetration by wisdom goes. As for these two bases -- the attainment of the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception and the attainment of the cessation of feeling and perception -- I tell you that they are to be rightly explained by those ascetics who are meditators, skilled in attaining, skilled in attaining and emerging [resolving when to enter, for how long, and when to emerge from these exalted states], who have attained and emerged in dependence on them."