Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 107undeludedly. To dwell on the object of concentration is to be completelyconscious basically. In this treatise ("completely conscious" in the sense of)"being completely conscious basically" has been taken.What are the salient characteristic, function, manifestation and near causeof the being "completely conscious" ? Non-bewilderment is its salient characteristic;decision is its function; investigation of states is its manifestation; toconsider rightly is its near cause.Q. Should one be mindful and completely conscious in all places ?A. If a man is not mindful and is not completely conscious he is not evenable to cause the arising of the access stage of meditation, jhdna.Q. Why is it taught in the third meditation, jhdna and not in the secondand the first meditations, jhdnaslA. Here, joy and all other coarse meditation {jhdna) factors are stilled.Concentration becomes fine, enters a place of fineness, and through the state ofbeing completely conscious remains firm in the third meditation, jhdna. Thushe gains facility in the exercise of the meditation {jhdna) factors.Again, the foolish mind longs for happiness and easily turns to the bliss ofthis meditation, jhdna, for its exceedingly sweet and named "alluring". Thus(through mindfulness and through the state of being completely conscious)one is able to remove joy and acquires facility in this meditation, jhdna.SIMILE OF THE CALFAgain, joy and bliss are intimate. So, understanding mindfulness and thestate of being completely conscious one dwells on the object in bliss separatefrom joy. It is like a calf following its mother. Unless someone holds itback by the ears, it will follow its mother with its head against her side. Oneunderstands bliss that is separate from joy, conjoined with mindfulness, and thestate of being completely conscious, and dwells on the object of concentration. 1On the contrary, if one does not understand, one re-enters joy and partakes ofdeterioration in concentration. For the acquiring of mastery over the meditation{jhdna) factors, mindfulness and the state of being completely consciousare taught. Thus equanimity, mindfulness and the state of being completelyconscious are accomplished. Therefore, it is said "abides in equanimity,mindful and completely conscious, experiencing in the body that bliss".Q. What is mental bliss?A. Bliss experienced in mind is mental bliss. It comes from mentalcontact. This is the meaning of mental bliss. This is called "bliss".Q. What is "body" ? The perception-group, formations-group and consciousness-group— these are called "body".1. Cp. Vis. Mag. 163: Yathd dhenupago vaccho dhenuto apanito arakkhiyamdno punad-evadhenum upagacchati. This simile, common to both the Vis. Mag and the Vim. Mag.,has not been traced to its source.