Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

90 VimuttimaggaQ. What are the salient characteristic, function, manifestation and nearcause of bliss ? How many kinds of bliss are there ? What are the differencesbetween joy and bliss ? A. Its function is its salient characteristic. Dependenceon an agreeable object — this is its agreeable function. Peaceful persuasionis its manifestation. Tranquillity is its near cause.FIVE KINDS OF BLISSHow many kinds of bliss are there ? There are five kinds of bliss, namely,caused bliss, fundamental bliss, the bliss of solitude, the bliss of non-defilement,the bliss of feeling.What is called caused bliss ? Thus it is according to the Buddha's teaching:"The bliss of virtue lasts long". This is called caused bliss. This is a meritof bliss. Thus is fundamental bliss according to the Buddha's teaching: "TheEnlightened One produces worldly bliss". 1 The bliss of solitude is the developmentof concentration-indifference and the destruction of meditation, jhdna.The bliss of non-defilement is according to the Buddha's teaching "highestNibbdna".' 2 The bliss of dwelling is generally called the bliss of dwelling.According to this treatise, the bliss of dwelling should be enjoyed. 3DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JOY AND BLISSWhat are the differences between joy and bliss? Buoyancy is joy, easeof mind is bliss. Tranquillity of mind is bliss. Concentration of mind is joy.Joy is coarse; bliss is fine. Joy belongs to the formations-group; bliss belongsto the sensation-group. Where there is joy there is bliss, but where there isbliss there may or may not be joy.FIRST MEDITATION (JHANA)The first is the basis for producing the second. After accomplishing theaccess one enters the first meditation, jhdna. The meditation-factors areinitial application of thought and sustained application of thought, joy, blissand unification of mind.What is meditation, jhdna! It is equalized meditation on an object. Itis the plucking out of the five hindrances. It is to meditate and to overcome.Enters the first meditation, jhdna, and acquires good standing: Havingalready acquired, having already touched, having already proved, one dwells.And again, thus is separation from lust and demeritorious states: Thefirst meditation, jhdna, is called the special characteristic of separation from theworld of sense. The second meditation, jhdna, has the special characteristic of1. Dh. 194: Sukho Buddhdnarh uppddo. 2. Dh. 204: Nibbdnam paramam sukham.3. Cp. I, 75: Puna ca param mahd-rdja bhikkhu pitiyd ca virdgd ca upekhako ca viharatisato ca sampajdno, sukhah ca kdyena patisarhvedeti yan tarn ariyd dckkihanti: "upekhakosatimd sukka-vihdri" ti tatiyajjhdnam upasampajja viharati.