Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

40 Vimuttimaggalike the equalized energy of four horses of a chariot, is concentration. It islike the attentiveness of a fletcher scrutinizing the straightness of a shaft.It is like a drug which counteracts poison, because it removes resentment.It is said in the Abhidhamma thus: "* is the meaning of concentration."This explanation of concentration is comprehensive.'Meditation* means the four meditations, namely, the first meditationand others.'Freedom' means the eight kinds of freedom, namely, one having internalperception of form reflects on external form and so on. 1'Concentration' means the three kinds of concentration, namely, initialand sustained application of thought and others.'Right observance' means the right observance of the nine graduallyascending states. 2'What is 'meditation' ? It is to contemplate on reality, to remove resentment,to make the mind happy, to discard the hindrances, to gain freedom,to equalize, to arouse concentration skilfully, to acquire liberation, to dwellin right observance, to wish to arouse concentration and to aspire to possessfreedom.BENEFITS PRODUCED BY CONCENTRATIONHow many benefits can concentration produce? There are four benefitswhich concentration can produce. What are the four? Pleasant dwellingin the happiness of truth in the present life; enjoyment of all objects throughinvestigation; acquisition of worldly knowledge; the attainment of perfection.What is 'pleasant dwelling in the happiness of truth in the present life' ?Namely, one acquires concentration and is freed from corruption. One'smind arouses joy, partakes of the joy of the supramundane and dwells pleasantlyin the happiness of truth in the present life. Therefore, has the Blessed Onesaid: "He produces joy from quietude, acquires coolness and becomesperfect gradually." 3 And again, the Buddha declared to the bhikkhus: "At* Unintelligible.J. Attha Vimokkha. Cp. D.II, 70,71. A. IV, 306. Rupi rupani passati etc. In theAbhidharma Sangiti Paryaya Padas*astra, the following account of the eight deliverancesor kinds of freedom is given:- "Having (or with) form one reflects on form; not havinginternal perception of form, one reflects on external form; attaining to and realizingthe emancipation of purity through one's body, one dwells; transcending all perceptionsof form, destroying all perceptions of sense-reactions, becoming heedless of perceptionsof diversity, one enters limitless space, and, attaining to the sphere of the infinity ofspace, dwells; entirely transcending the sphere of the infinity of space, one enters limitlessconsciousness, and, attaining to the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, dwells;entirely transcending, the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, one enters nothingnessand, attaining to the sphere of nothingness, dwells; entirely transcending the sphere ofnothingness, one enters the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception and,attaining to it, dwells; and entirely transcending the sphere of neither perception nornon-perception, one enters the state of the dissolution of perception and sensationand, attaining to and realizing it through the body, dwells".2. A. IV, 410: Nava anupubbavihara. 3. Not traced.