Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

19 6 Vimuttimaggato consider the blue-green, yellow (or other) colour kasina, and attains tofixed meditation, jhana, without difficulty. At this time the yogin accomplishesthe fourth meditation, jhana, of the element of form. Therefore loving-kindnessis first in (the sphere of) the beautiful. 1 At that time the yogin, dependingon loving-kindness which he has developed in the fourth meditation, jhana,of the element of form, surpasses that (element).Q. How is that shallow? A. He practises loving-kindness; thereforehe knows the tribulations of the element of form. How? Seeing the sufferingsof beings he develops loving-kindness through a material cause. After thathe understands the tribulations of the element of form. He causes the mindto consider the abandoning of forms and of space, and attains to fixed meditation,jhana, without difficulty in the sphere of the infinity of space, becausehe depends on it. Therefore it is said that compassion is first in the sphereof the infinity of space. 2 That yogin surpasses the sphere of the infinity ofspace through appreciative joy.Q. What is the meaning? A. That yogin, when he practises appreciativejoy, contemplates on limitless consciousness, and is not attached to anything.How? (Through) this appreciative joy (the yogin) attains to fixed meditation,jhana, through contemplation on beings in the un-attached sphere of theinfinity of consciousness. After that, being not attached, he grasps theobject of limitless consciousness. Freed from form and attached to space,he considers limitless consciousness and through contemplating many objects,he attains to fixed meditation without difficulty. Therefore, in the sphere ofthe infinity of consciousness, appreciative joy is first. 3Q. That yogin transcends the sphere of the infinity of consciousnessthrough equanimity. What is the meaning of it?A. That yogin, practising equanimity fulfils freedom from attachment.How? If one does not practise equanimity, he will be attached (to things) and(think), "This being gets happiness", (or this being) "gets suffering". Or hedepends on joy or bliss. Thereafter he turns away from all attachment. Heturns away from the sphere of the infinity of consciousness 4 and is happy.He attains to fixed meditation, jhana, without difficulty. His mind is not1. See Corny. (Spk. Ill, 172-3) passage marked * included in note 1 under metta,page 195.2. Karund-vihdrissa danddbhighdtddi-rupa-nimittam sattadukkham samanupassantassakarundya pavatti-sambhavato rupe ddinavo suparividito hoti. AtK asset suparividitarupadinavattapafhavi kasinddisu ahnataram ugghdtetva rupa-nissarane dkdse cittam upasathharatoappakasirert eva tattha cittam pakkhandati. hi karund dkdsdnancdyatanassaupanissayo hoti, na tato par am. Tasmd 6 dkdsdnancdyatanaparamd i ti vutta.—Spk. Ill, 173,being comment on sutta passage marked ** in note 1, page 195.3. Muditd-vihdrissa pana tena tena pdmojja-karanena uppanna-pdmojja-sattanam vihhdnamsamanupassantassa muditdya pavatti-sambhavato vinndna-ggahana-paricitam cittam hoti.AtKassa anukkamddhigatam dkdsdnancdyatanam atikkamma dkdsa-nimitta-gocare vinndnecittam upasathharato appakasirert eva tattha cittam pakkhandati. hi muditd vinndnancdyatanassaupanissayo hoti, na tato par am. Tasmd"' 'vinndnancdyatana-paramd' tivutta.—Spk. Ill, 173—comment on passage marked f, page 195.4. Lit. dkihcahhdyatana.