Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

"liberations" or "places of victory." As they concern
only samatha, it is appropriate to include them in this
chapter.
In Buddhist teaching, there are four meditational levels
of subtle form (rupa-dhyana): from the fourth, four
spheres of formless meditation are derived
(arupa-dhyana). The eighth level is a state of complete
cessation (samjna-vedayita-nirodha).
l. Because of the imaginations of the mind, the body
seems a very pleasant thing, so one is attached to it.
Concentrating on the body, think how it will become all
discolored and decayed. Renouncing gross bodily form
and being liberated from it, one attains the first
rupa-dhyana.
2. Inwardly there is no form but even in the second
rupa-dhyana there is still a subtle mind of lust arising on
imaginings and subtle perceptions. Renounce these; do
not let them arise.
3. The first two dhyanas are samapatti on impermanence
and impurity. Now one renounces the former
meditations and concentrates on purity of the eight
kinds of light seen in meditation.
4. Then one is no longer attached either to the physical
body or to subtle imaginings about it. One sees the
purity of the body and in this state, called the "witness
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