Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 97the first meditation, jhdna, there are three kinds: lower, middling and upper.When a man considers the special means, but does not remove the five hindranceswell and does not reach the state of freedom, it is called lowermeditation, jhdna. When a man considers the special means and removes thefive hindrances, but does not reach the state of freedom, it is called middlingmeditation, jhdna. When a man considers the special means, removes thehindrances well and reaches the state of freedom, it is called higher meditation,jhdna. If a yogin attains to the lower first meditation, jhdna, afterhis death he will join the retinue of Brahma, and his life-span will be a thirdof an aeon; if he practises the middling first meditation, jhdna, he will, afterhis death, be reborn as a chief Brahma, and his life-span will be half an aeon;if he practises the higher first meditation, jhdna, he will be reborn as a GreatBrahma, and his life-span will be one aeon. 1MEDITATION WHICH PARTAKES OF DETERIORATION,STABILITY, DISTINCTION AND PENETRATIONThere are four kinds of men who acquire the merit of rebirth in the worldof Brahma. A man partakes of deterioration, a man partakes of stability, aman partakes of distinction and a man partakes of penetration. 2A man of dull faculties causes the arising of meditation, jhdna, but isheedless. And again, through two kinds of conduct in meditation, jhdna, aman partakes of deterioration:— (1) Owing to the denseness of the encompassingimpurities 3 , a man has not sufficient energy to destroy the evildiscursive thinking which he caused to arise in the past. Thus, owing to thedenseness of the encompassing impurities, he deteriorates. (2) Or, a manwho is desirous of meditation, jhdna, is given to talk, addicted to sleep, anddoes not endeavour. Hence he deteriorates.Q. Who falls back and how?A. There is an opinion that if a man becomes impure of mind, he willfall back. And again, there is an opinion: Through slow pollution of themind, one falls back. And again, there is another opinion: If a man losesserenity, he falls back. And there is yet another opinion: If a man does notpractise for a long time on the sign he caused to arise in the past, he becomesincapable of making it to arise as he likes and does not attain to concentration.So, he falls back. If a man of dull faculties dwells needfully, he acquires therecollectedness of that state and partakes of stability in meditation, jhdna.1. Brahma-pdrisajja, Brahma-pwohita, Mahd-Brahmd.2. Cp. Pts. I, 35 — 6: Pathamajjhdnassa Idbhim kdmasahagatd sahhdmanasikdrd samuddcaranti,hdnabhdgiyo dhammo; tadanudhammatd sati santitthati, (hifibhdgiyo dhammo;avitakkasahagatd sahhd manasikdrd samuddcaranti, visesabhdgiyo dhammo; nibbiddsahagatdsahnd manasikdrd samuddcaranti virdgupasamhitd, nibbdehabhdgiyo dhammo.3. Pariyutthdna kilesa:— Cp. Thi. vv. 77—8: Ayonisomanasikdrd kdmardgena additd,ahosiih uddhatd pubbe citte avasavattini.Pariyutthitd kilesehi sukhasahhdnuvattini,samam cittassa ndlabhim rdgacittavasdnugd.