Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 111has arisen ceases entirely". 1 Q. Why does the faculty of bliss cease in thethird meditation, jhana? A. Joy perishes, and so, bliss that arises dependingon joy also perishes. Therefore, in the third meditation, jhana, the facultyof bliss perishes.Q. If the faculties of pain, bliss and grief were removed in the thirdmeditation, jhana, why is their ending taught in the fourth meditation, jhana ?A. These faculties were removed in the third meditation, jhana. Thethird meditation, jhana, is an approach to the fourth meditation, jhana. Inthe third meditation, jhana, these having arisen, passed away. Therefore,their removal is taught in the fourth meditation, jhana.And again, "accomplishes" the "painless" and "pleasureless" means theovercoming of pain and pleasure. 2 Therefore, the overcoming of pain andpleasure is taught as the accomplishment of the painless and pleasureless.And again, it is because in the fourth meditation, jhana, attainment and overcomingoccur together. And again, equanimity removes the defilementsimmediately and entirely. The attaining to the "painless" and ^pleasureless"means that the mind does not receive and thought does not reject. This iscalled the attaining to the "painless" and "pleasureless".What are the salient characteristic, function, manifestation and nearcause of the accomplishing of the "painless" and "pleasureless" ?Middleness is the salient characteristic. Dwelling in a middle positionis the function. Abandoning is the manifestation. Removal of joy is thenear cause.What is the purity of. equanimity-mindfulness? Neutrality is calledequanimity. That is called equanimity. "Mindfulness" is called attentiveness,recollectedness and Right Mindfulness. These are called "mindfulness".The mindfulness that is clarified and purified by equipoise is called "purityof equanimity-mindfulness".Q. How is mindfulness clarified and purified by equipoise? A. Hereimperturbability and non-action are fulfilled, owing to the abandoning of alldefilements and owing to resemblance and closeness to that attainment. Thisnon-action is associated with equipoise. Therefore, mindfulness reachesimperturbability and fulfils impassivity. Therefore, this mindfulness isequanimity and acquires clarity and purity."Fourth": This means that because of the third, the fourth is fulfilled."Accomplishes the meditation": This refers to the equanimity-mindfulness1. S.V, 214: Idha bhikkhave bhikkhuno appamattassa atapino pahitattassa viharato uppajjatisukhindriyam Kattha cuppannam sukhindriyam aparisesam nirujjhatil Idhabhikkhave bhikkhu pitiya ca virdgd upekhako ca viharati sato sampajdno sukharh ca kdyenapatisamvedeti tatiyam jhanam upasampajja viharati. Ettha cuppannam sukhindriyamaparisesam nirujjhati.2. S.V., 215: Idha pana bhikkhave bhikkhuno appamattassa atapino pahitattassa viharatouppajjati somanassindriyam Kattha cuppannam somanassindriyam aparisesamnirujjhati. Idha bhikkhave bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahdnd dukkhassa ca pahdnd pubbevasomanassadomanassdnam atthagamd adukkhamasukham upekhdsatipdrisuddhim catutthamjhanam upasampajja viharati. Ettha cuppannam somanassindriyam aparisesam nirujjhati.