The Practice Which leads to Nibbana - A Buddhist Library

w 82consisting of nothingness. It is called the base consisting of neitherperception nor non perception because the perception present in itis extremely subtle.If you wish to develop the base consisting of neither perceptionnor non perception you must firstly attain the five masteries of thebase consisting of nothingness. Then after that you should reflecton the disadvantages of the base consisting of nothingness by thinking:This base consisting of nothingness has the base consisting ofboundless consciousness as its near enemy and it is not as peacefulas the base consisting of neither perception nor non perception.Perception is a disease, perception is a boil, perception is a dart, thebase consisting of neither perception nor non perception is peaceful.After having thus become dispassionate towards the base consistingof nothingness you should then reflect on the peaceful natureof the base consisting of neither perception nor non perception. Thenyou should pay attention again and again to the attainment of thebase consisting of nothingness as "peaceful, peaceful".Then you need to continue to pay attention to that sign of theattainment of the base consisting of nothingness as "Peaceful, peaceful"with initial application of the mind. By doing this again andagain you will find that the hindrances are suppressed and thatupacŒra concentration arises with that sign as its object. By repeatedattention to that sign you will find that appana jhŒna arises with thatsign as its object. This is the fourth immaterial jhŒna called the baseconsisting of neither perception nor non perception.