Buddha Abhidhamma - Ultimate Science - BuddhaNet

374
trains himself; “calming this breathing process I will
exhale”; thus he trains himself.
As breathing occurs rhythmically it can draw one’s attention
towards it and builds up concentration very quickly. If the mind
wanders out to some external object such as tea-shop, cafeteria,
movie-house, etc., note that it is there and focus it back on
respiration. When the five hindrances (nivàranas) are suppressed
completely, rapture (pãti), tranquility of mind (passaddhi), pleasant
feeling (sukha vedanà) and concentration (samàdhi) will become
distinct, and one experiences happiness one has never
experienced before. One feels very light in body and mind and
very peaceful. Some even feel as if they were floating in the air.
About this time a conceptualized light image (nimitta) in
the form of a tube of rays or a sparkling diamond or a bright
ruby or the like usually appears. The five jhàna-factors also
become distinct and strong, and one may be assured that one
has attained neighbourhood-concentration. If one carries on the
mindfulness exercise earnestly and intensely, very soon one may
attain the first jhàna and the higher jhànas.
Based on the jhàna-concentration, one may carry on the
insight-meditation by investigating the mental and the corporeal
phenomena in mind and body in detail. Then by contemplating
on tilakkhaõa- i.e. the phenomena of impermanence, suffering and
non-personality – one develops insight knowledge (vipassanà-¤àõa)
which will gradually lead to the Path and its Fruition.
Four Brahma-vihàras
‘Brahma’ means ‘sublime’ and ‘vihàra’ means ‘abode’ or ‘state
of living’. Thus ‘Brahmavihàra’ refers to ‘sublime abode’ or