Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 93SIMILES OF CHARIOT AND ARMYA. By means of the meditation, jhdna, factors, meditation (jhdna) isfulfilled. There is no meditation, jhdna, separate from meditation (jhdna)factors. Such meditation, jhdna, there is not. One can speak of a chariotbecause of all the parts of a chariot. 1 There is no chariot outside the parts.Owing to all the parts of an army, one can speak of an army. There is noarmy separate from the parts. Thus owing to meditation (jhdna) factors, itis called meditation, jhdna. There is no meditation, jhdna, separate from themeditation (jhdna) factors. 2 The factors combined are named meditation,jhdna. Separately, they are named factors. It is taught that the object iscalled meditation, jhdna, and the attributes, factors. By way of clan theyare meditation, jhdna. By way of caste they are factors.Q. In spite of there being mindfulness, energy and others, why are onlyfive factors taught?A. Because these five through combination accomplish meditation,jhdna.Q. What are the characteristics of combination?A. Initial application of thought follows the object of mind and acquiresfixed meditation. Sustained application of thought goes together with theobserving mind. When initial and sustained application of thought areunmixed, they cause the arising of skilfulness. If one is skilful, one producesjoy and bliss. If one is skilful, one can produce the heart of joy, and afterincreasing that, produce the heart of bliss. With these four qualities themind becomes peaceful. If the mind becomes peaceful, it acquires concentration.These are called the characteristics of combination. Thus, thesefive, through combination, accomplish (meditation, jhdna).And again, the hindrances are overcome by the perfection of the five.The overcoming of the first hindrance is the first meditation, jhdna. Thusthe overcoming of the five hindrances results in five meditations, jhdnas. Inthe first meditation, jhdna, initial application of thought is the special factor;through initial application of thought lust is abandoned. If initial applicationof thought enters into right concentration, the other factors are also awakened.Among the five factors, sustained application of thought is the beginning ofthe second meditation; joy, of the third meditation; bliss, of the fourth;and unification of mind, of the fifth. These are the special factors of themeditations, jhdnas.And again, with the overcoming of the five hindrances, the five are fulfilled,as it is taught in the Tipitaka: "Unification of mind is the overcoming ofsensuous desire, joy is the overcoming of anger, initial application of thought1. S. I, 135: Yathd hi angasambhdra hoti saddo ratho iti.2. Sp. I, 146: Yathd pana sarathd sapattisend ti vutte senangesu eva send eva send samutti—evam idha pahcasu angesu yeva jhdnasammuti veditabbd.