(6.7) Theravada - The Practice Guide (Formless Meditations and Nirvana)

[Niết Bàn Tầm]

THERAVADA

3. THE PRACTICE OF PARI-AJNA EKAGRATA

3.4. FORMLESS MEDITATIONS (Arūpajhāna)

There are five completely different mental states when you cultivate the Formless Realms. It is very hard to explain them in a way that can be fully understood unless you are there and experience them yourself. Words have their own limitations.
(1) The Infinity of Space (Ākāsānañcāyatana): Space is boundless. You feel yourself being ubiquitous.
(2) The Infinity of Consciousness (Viññānañcāyatana): The feeling that consciousness has nothing inside and it spreads out widely, greatly, and boundlessly.
(3) Nothingness (Ākiñcaññāyatana): The feeling that nothing belongs to you and it spreads out widely, vastly, and boundlessly.
(4) Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception (N'eva saññān' āsaññāyatana): In this state of mind, it is not true to say you have thoughts. Neither is it correct to say you do not have thoughts. At the same time, you have a feeling of unlimited depth and ubiquity.
(5) Immateriality: soulless, pure, and quiet.

3.4.1. THE REALM OF INFINITE SPACE (Ākāsānañcāyatana)

The necessary condition for this practice level is the ability to enter and exit the Fourth Jhana as easily as a cowboy drawing his gun.

The practice: Close your eyes 100% and visualize a small white star. Make this white star as small as a dot. After a while of practice, the white star starts to emit light. The light radiation gets stronger, brighter, spreading out more, and gradually occupying a vast and immense space. Once reaching a certain limit, the light rays stop and turn into rainbow rays of light. Note that the colors of these light rays are not discrete and distinctly separated; but rather, change smoothly from one to another (like in a natural rainbow).

A side note: While cultivating the Form Realms, you could at times see a colourful space. However, the colors are distinct and have obvious boundaries. This is a manifestation of an angry mind.

Abilities: When having attained this realm of infinite space, you will have the ability to share the same feelings of a sentient being. An example: NP (a son of my [Tibu's] neighbor) was 13 years old when it he reached this stage. One day he concentrated his mind on a chilli tree, he knew that it was thirsty! When he picked a chilli, he knew that the tree was hurt. Another example: DP (his sister), having also reached this realm, often paid her attention to me. And when I had some sitting nerve pain, she said she also got the same pain. These examples mean that at this level your feeling is no longer limited to your own body. It can spread out boundlessly, which explains why this state is named the Infinity of Space.

3.4.2. THE REALM OF INFINITE CONSCIOUSNESS (Viññānañcāyatana)

It is quite challenging to enter this state. This is because the vast rainbow colors make it difficult to find and focus on the tiny white star. However, with strenuous effort and perseverance, you can do it. After a while, you will see that the colors have expanded to the entirety of the space. Once this happens, you have reached the Realm of Infinite Consciousness. As a result, you could read people's thoughts easily. Back to the two kids, I [Tibu] mention above. When they both had attained this level, their mom told me that they talked to each other by telepathy. Outsiders could not hear and understand anything. They only saw them shake and nod their heads, just like watching a silent movie.

3.4.3. THE REALM OF NOTHINGNESS (Ākiñcaññāyatana)

With sustained concentration on the white star, the space will start to become darkened and then totally black. However, you can feel the vastness and immensity of this dark space.  The attainment of this level results in both infinite feelings and consciousness.

Human beings have two parts: physical body and thought. Now with this samādhi level, you can break their borders: They no longer belong to you but are spreading out endlessly.

3.4.4. THE REALM OF NEITHER PERCEPTION NOR NON-PERCEPTION (N'eva saññān' āsaññāyatana)

When you continue fixing your attention to the star, the space becomes even much wider and darker. Tranquillity and mental inactivity (thoughtlessness) could be sustained as long as you wish. Both gross and subtle consciousness are under the control of your samādhi. You would feel as though you have reached the ultimate purification. If and only if you absolutely focus on this purity, you will suddenly realize that:
(1) First, this is a very high standard of purity. The breath has long stopped (if you are deeply absorbed in this samādhi level.
(2) Second, because the brain is still working your ego remains as strong as ever.

3.4.5. INSIGHT MEDITATION (Vipassanā)

It is the wisdom of contemplating oneself, or realizing this statement: 'This soul is not me, this mind is not me, this body is not me' (N'etam mama, Nesóham-asmi, Namesoatta). How to practice vipassanā in the right way? It is only when you have reached the Fourth Jhana meditation.
▪ Contemplate from the First through the Fourth Jhana (using a kasina), then visualize a TV screen in egg white color and keep it as long as possible. Next recite in your mind: 'Tranquil'... 'tranquil'... 'tranquil'... until you feel like suffocated. At that moment, decisively push for another recitation of 'Tranquil'.
▪ After a while, you will see a human image in a lotus (padmasana) posture appear in the TV screen. You will have a strange feeling about this image: He looks familiar but you do not know who he is or what his name is. Nonetheless, you attempt to get to know this dull-looking guy (who is effectively you!).
▪ Be persistent with this practice, you will make another important step forward: While feeling short of breath, think about the Earth. Just do that you will know why. When so thinking, you will have a feeling that "I have never been born in that place. Not once!" Although it is inconceivable as to why such a feeling occurs when you are facing the Earth in a vast space, you will later understand that the ongoing extreme tranquillity (and its associated breathlessness) is something that has never happened to any sentient being born on Earth! This feeling is a manifestation of no more rebirth. Put it differently, it means that nowhere on Earth that could accommodate you with this state of tranquillity.
▪ When you move to the last step of Nirodha Samāpatti and use the concepts of Sorrows (dukkha), Transiency (anicca), and soullessness (anattā) to attain Enlightenment, you should not have any problem at all. Otherwise, it will be very weird!

 Comments

+ Every day you practice, every day you will reach the stage of apparent suffocation. Of course, it is not easy to get used to the fact of being choked on a daily basis. You will surely feel scared of becoming crazy (like Tibu) or going dead. However, always remember this crucial phrase from our masters: 'Despite being scared, fear not this sacredness!' That means, do not stop your practice because of this fear. First, revisit your adherence to sīla. Then, go seek advice from other experienced cultivators (who have been there and done that). They would just smile and say "Do not worry. No one will die. It is your ego, your soul that is afraid of disappearing. It triggers such thought to scare you from practicing". Continue practicing so that you will get used to it and not be afraid of that thought anymore.
+ The suffocation phenomenon should not be surprising really because the Buddha once said that "Tranquillity in the mind should lead to tranquillity in all else". As such, the flows of air and their associated movements in the chest (or belly) while breathing must stop when the mind becomes tranquil.
+ The practice at this level is very advanced. You should master the techniques to enter each level of samādhi and use them very well.
+ Together with the mastery of techniques, other religious services such as transporting souls to Amitābha Buddha's Land of Ultimate Bliss, converting, and spreading the Dharmas will help you enter the Realm of Cessation of Sensations and Perceptions more smoothly.

3.4.6. THE REALM OF CESSATION OF SENSATIONS AND PERCEPTIONS (Nirodha Samāpatti)

▪ With your kasina, try to attain the Fourth Jhana, and then apply the 'Tranquil' recitation as described above in the insight meditation, which will lead you to the feeling of air shortage. With the brave characteristic of a person who has vowed to follow Shakyamuni Buddha's path to the very end regardless of what may come (even death), I [Tibu] found the air shortage feeling nothing to worry about. With a similar consciousness while you are profoundly absorbed in samādhi, you should overcome this feeling and successfully recite 'Tranquil' one more time: You enter the 'suchness' (bhutatathata) state of mind via the 'Insight Eye'.
▪ You are now the 'Insight Eye' and with it you see the image of a man sitting cross-legged in an upright TV frame. Looking at this man, the 'Insight Eye' feels like having seen him somewhere but does not remember where it is. This familiar but unsure feeling is interestingly weird. In addition, the 'Insight Eye' sees this man as kind of dumb, foolish, and abnormal. When thinking about the Earth, a perception will arise and travel through your head from the right half to the left half of the brain as follows: 'I have never been born in that place. Not once!'
▪ Similar to vipassanā, but when you feel really suffocated, try to recite one of the three following mudras:
  (1) Life is impermanent (anicca).
  (2) All Dharmas are soulless (anattā).
  (3) Sensation (vedanā) means sorrows (dukkha).
Or, simply say "Sorrows, Impermanence, Soullessness!"
▪ What will happen is that the image of the foolish-looking guy disappears. A clean, clear, steady, and shiny space opens in front of your vision. The perception of every single thing is a part of you will be clear and vivid. If you focus your attention on something or someone, you will be that thing or person with all vibrations associated with that object or person. Another special thing happening after you have attained Liberation is that a thought will suddenly spring up from nowhere: "This is the end of the Path, the end of all learning, and I now live just for the sake of living until this worldly life runs out of its course." The latter part of this thought could well become: "... and I now live to fulfil my vows of helping others in their path towards Liberation." So, it depends on the Enlightenment outcome that this thought will emerge accordingly.

 Comments

+ It will take a long time to rewake from Nirodha Samāpatti. You will realize that your heart and your breath have stopped during this attainment.
+ Attaining Nirodha Samāpatti is the ultimate purpose of Buddhism cultivation. This is the Truth, the Noble Path. Before this state, any achievements (e.g., supernormal powers) are simply heavenly and incomplete. A cultivator that enters Nirodha Samāpatti once is called a Stream Winner (Sotāpatti), twice being a Once-Returner (Sakadāgāmi), four times a Never-Returner (Anāgāmi), and seven times a Worthy-of-Offerings (Arhat).