Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 221in their hearts through the changing colours. 1 Having understood thus, hecauses the arising of the knowledge of others' thoughts. Having arousedthe knowledge of others' thoughts, he leaves off attending to the changesof colour and holds to the heart only as object. That yogin practises thus.Therefore his mind becomes pure.If a certain individual has the heart of loving-kindness, he (the yogin)knows that that individual possesses the heart of loving-kindness. If a certainindividual has the heart of hate, he knows that that individual has the heartof hate. If a certain individual has not the heart of hate, he knows that thatindividual has not the heart of hate. 2 Thus he knows all.The knowledge of others' thoughts proceeds in eight objects, namely,limited object, lofty object, the path object, the immeasurable object, thepast object, the future object, the present object and the external object. 3 Theknowledge of the thoughts of those who are freed from the cankers is notwithin the power of the commoner. The thoughts of the beings of the formlessrealms are knowable only by the Buddhas. If the hearer gains freedom,he knows the thoughts (of beings) of a thousand world-systems. The SilentBuddhas know more. As to the Tathagata, there is no limit.The knowledge of others' thoughts has ended.%RECOLLECTION OF PAST LIVESQ. Who practises the knowledge of the recollection of past lives ? Howmany kinds of knowledge of the recollection of past lives are there? How isit developed?A. He who enters the fourth meditation, jhana, with facility on theeight kasinas and the two kasinas, is able to cause the arising of the knowledgeof the recollection of past lives.Again it is asked:What is the form plane meditation?The fourth meditation, jhana, of the form plane where there is freedomof the mind.Again it is asked:"In the fourth meditation, jhana, how many kinds1. Cp. Vis. Mag. 409, where only three colours are given and are different from those mentionedhere.2. Cp. A. I, 255; D.I, 79-80; S. II, 121-22; V, 265: Eyarh bhavitesu kho bhikkhu catusuiddhipadesu evam bahulikatesu parasattanam parapuggaldnam cetasd ceto paricca pajdndti.Sardgam vd cittam sardgam cittanti pajdndti, vitardgam vd cittarh... pe ..., sadosamyd cittam... pe ..., vitadosam vd cittam... pe ..., samoham vd cittam... pe ...,vitamoham vd cittam... pe ..., sankhittam vd cittam... pe ..., vikkhittam vd cittam.. .pe ..., mahaggatam vd cittam... pe ..., amahagattam vd cittam... pe ..., sauttaramvd cittam... pe ..., anuttaram vd cittam... pe ..., asamdhitam vd cittam... pe ...,samdhitam vd cittam... pe ..., avimuttam va cittam... pe ..., vimuttam vd cittamvimuttam cittan ti pajdndti.3. Vis. Mag. 431: Cetopariyandnam paritta-mahaggata-appamdna-magga-atitandgata-paccuppanna-bahiddharammana-vasenaatfkasu drammanesu pavatti.