Shakyamuni - Trajectory to Nirvana - 4

- Cessation of Perception and Feeling (Nirodha-samāpatti)

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◎Cessation of Perception and Feeling: Absorption with Form

In the Pāli Canon's Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (遊行経), Shakyamuni is about to enter Parinirvana.

"Thereupon the Blessed One entered the first jhāna. Emerging from the first jhāna he entered the second jhāna. Emerging from the second jhāna he entered the third jhāna. Emerging from the third jhāna he entered the fourth jhāna. Emerging from the fourth jhāna (thus concluding the Form Realm meditations),

he entered the sphere of boundless space.

Emerging from the sphere of boundless space he entered the sphere of boundless consciousness.

Emerging from the sphere of boundless consciousness he entered the sphere of no-thingness.

Emerging from the sphere of no-thingness he entered the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception. Emerging from the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception (thus concluding the Formless Realm meditations, and thereby transcending the entire world of sentient beings, the three realms),

he entered the cessation of perception and feeling (滅想定 - Nirodha-samāpatti)."

(Quoted from 阿含経を読む / 青土社 pp. 951-952)

※Sphere of boundless space: Corresponds to the Sphere of Infinite Space (空無辺処定 - Ākāsānañcāyatana-samāpatti). ※Sphere of boundless consciousness: Corresponds to the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness (識無辺処定 - Viññāṇañcāyatana-samāpatti). ※Sphere of no-thingness: Corresponds to the Sphere of No-thingness (無所有処定 - Ākiñcaññāyatana-samāpatti). ※Sphere of neither perception nor non-perception: Corresponds to the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-perception (非想非非想処定 - N'eva-saññā-n'āsaññāyatana-samāpatti). ※Cessation of perception and feeling: Corresponds to the Cessation of Feeling and Perception (滅尽定 - Nirodha-samāpatti).

As described above, Shakyamuni ascended sequentially from meditation level 1 to level 9.

The Cessation of Perception and Feeling is beyond the Form Realm and the Formless Realm, and therefore exists beyond individual human nature. This means that it is not experienced by an individual, but rather it is the Buddha experiencing the Buddha, in other words, an experience on the Buddha's side. That is, it is the Absorption with Form (有相三昧 - ūpa-saññā-samāpatti) in the Meditation Cross Map.

Furthermore, the Cessation of Perception and Feeling is the highest level of meditation. Although it is classified as "concentration" (定 - samādhi) in this context, in the classification of the Yoga Sūtras, it would be seen as Absorption with Form (有想三昧). Therefore, it seems that "concentration" and "absorption" are being used interchangeably here.

Shakyamuni - Trajectory to Nirvana - 3

- Formless Realm Meditations

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◎Up to the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception

Now that the explanation of the four levels of Form Realm meditation is complete, we move on to the Formless Realm meditations.

I will explain the top four levels out of the nine levels. However, even though the Formless Realm is a world detached from matter, it is still a level of concentration that retains the individuality experienced by a human being. Since it is a human experience, no matter how wonderful that experience may be, I believe it is an experience that will eventually change and disappear.

(3) Formless Realm (Arūpadhātu)

A world of pure spirituality, beyond desires and material things.

(e) Sphere of Infinite Space (空無辺処定 - Ākāsānañcāyatana-samāpatti): The consciousness that there is limitless space.

(f) Sphere of Infinite Consciousness (識無辺処定 - Viññāṇañcāyatana-samāpatti): The consciousness that everything is in limitless space.

(g) Sphere of No-thingness (無所有処定 - Ākiñcaññāyatana-samāpatti): The consciousness that there is absolutely nothing.

(h) Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-perception (非想非非想処定 - N'eva-saññā-n'āsaññāyatana-samāpatti): The state where there is no consciousness of absolutely nothing.

The state where there is no consciousness of absolutely nothing must be a very wonderful state, without any problems or anxieties, comfortable and nostalgic. For a beginner in meditation practice, it is certainly a goal to aim for. Also, perhaps if a popular psychic ability master reaches this level, they would be called a great psychic.

I also think that the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception corresponds to the highest heaven.

However, Shakyamuni was not satisfied with the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception and aimed for a higher stage. In his many repeated reincarnations, Shakyamuni must have known that even the state of no consciousness of absolutely nothing was not the real thing. Concentration is concentration, and it does not transcend the limitations of humanity.

In the horizontal path of the Meditation Cross Map, meditative states are divided into concentration (定 - samādhi) and absorption (三昧 - samāpatti). Concentration is when the self remains, and absorption is when the self is absent. Therefore, although I have shown the four types of Formless Realm meditations up to the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception, all of them are concentration and not absorption. It is natural that Shakyamuni was not satisfied.

Shakyamuni - Trajectory to Nirvana - 2

 - Explanation of the Four Dhyānas

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In the Pāli Canon's Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (遊行経), there is an explanation of the four dhyānas within the story of King Mahāsudassana (大善見王), one of Shakyamuni's past lives.

When King Mahāsudassana obtained happiness as a human and then meditated intending to attain happiness as a deva (god),

"There, having thoroughly considered the evil unwholesome states of sensual desire and ill-will, with applied thought and sustained thought, born of seclusion, filled with rapture and pleasure, he attained the first jhāna (初禅)."

(Quoted from 阿含経を読む（下）/青土社 P799)

※In this context, "applied thought" (覚 - kaku) and "sustained thought" (観 - kan) refer to the workings of the mind when thinking about various things. "Applied thought" is the coarse working of the mind, and "sustained thought" is the subtle working. "Rapture" (喜 - ki) is joy, and "pleasure" (楽 - raku) is delight, a feeling of happiness.

"(Next,) with the stilling of applied and sustained thought, gaining inner tranquility, unification of mind, without applied thought and sustained thought, born of concentration, filled with rapture and pleasure, he attained the second jhāna (二禅).

(Next,) with the fading away of rapture, remaining equanimous, mindful and clearly comprehending, still feeling pleasure in body, he attained the third jhāna (三禅), which the noble ones declare: 'He is equanimous, mindful, one who has a pleasant abiding.'

(Next,) with the abandoning of pleasure and pain, and with the previous disappearance of joy and grief, he attained the fourth jhāna (四禅), which is neither painful nor pleasant, and purified by equanimity and mindfulness."

(Quoted from 阿含経を読む(下) / 青土社 pp. 799-800)

Overall, this is an explanation that achieving the fourth dhyāna meditation is necessary for King Mahāsudassana, a past life of Shakyamuni, to realize happiness as a deva. Deva (天) here refers to the deva realm (the fifth from the top) in the Buddhist Ten Realms theory, and it is not the meditation to reach the highest state of "Buddha."

In these four stages of dhyāna, we can observe how the pleasantness, joy, serenity, and harmonious feelings often encountered in somewhat spiritual meditation experiences become purer as the meditation deepens.

Shakyamuni - Trajectory to Nirvana - 1

- Realm of Desire and Realm of Form

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Shakyamuni renounced all his social standing as a prince and his family, left home, and received teachings from two hermits.

First, the hermit Āḷāra Kālāma taught the Sphere of No-thingness. The Sphere of No-thingness is the seventh of the nine stages of meditative absorption, and it is considered quite remarkable from a worldly perspective.

Then, the hermit Uddaka Rāmaputta taught the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-perception. The Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-perception is the eighth of the nine stages of meditative absorption, and it can be said that his ability as a meditation teacher was considerable.

Shakyamuni sought teachings from these two hermits, but in the end, he could not find satisfaction and embarked on ascetic practices.

1. In early Buddhism, the world is classified into three realms: the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Formless Realm.

Each realm corresponds to the nine levels of meditation on the horizontal axis of meditation.

(1) Realm of Desire (Kāmadhātu)

The lowest realm, where beings with desires such as sexual desire and greed reside.

In the Ten Realms theory, it is said to include hell, the realm of hungry ghosts, the realm of animals, the realm of asuras, the human realm, and a part of the heavens.

Meditation up to the level of a part of the heavens is considered desire-realm concentration (Kāmadhātu-samādhi).

(2) Realm of Form (Rūpadhātu)

The realm above the Realm of Desire, where beings who have already detached themselves from desires reside, and it is a realm composed of "form" (matter) that has shape and appearance.

In the Ten Realms theory, it corresponds to a part of the heavens, śrāvakas (voice-hearers), pratyekabuddhas (solitary realizers), bodhisattvas, and buddhas.

The four levels of meditation (four dhyānas) start from this Realm of Form. As will be explained in the next article, the first to the fourth dhyānas are all states of feeling pleasant or joyful.

(a) First Dhyāna (初禅 - Shuzen)
(b) Second Dhyāna (二禅 - Nizen)
(c) Third Dhyāna (三禅 - Sanzen)
(d) Fourth Dhyāna (四禅 - Shizen)

It is believed that various pleasant spiritual states arise during meditation in the Realm of Desire and the Realm of Form. For example, feelings of happiness, purity, peace of mind, tranquility, power, freshness, and gentleness are experienced as vivid realities. Also, since a part of the heavens is included, I think that the manifestation of some supernormal abilities may occur.

Up to this point, it is thought to correspond to Savitarka-samādhi (有尋定) in the Yoga Sūtras.

Shakya - 3 - The Unpublished Vertical Enlightenment

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◎ Another Intersection of the Meditation Cross Map

The vertical path refers to religions broadly related to Kundalini Yoga. These broadly defined Kundalini Yoga-related religions include Ancient Shinto, Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, Tendai Esoteric Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Taoist Inner Alchemy, Kundalini Yoga, Western Alchemy, and others.

My impression is that the common essence among these involves a stage of transcending the physical body and uniting with deities or Buddhas, and it seems that only this stage is common.

Looking at the Meditation Cross Map, I believe that the final stage of the horizontal path, the Formless Samadhi, and the final stage of the vertical path, Nirvana, are the same. Regarding Shakya (Buddha), the process of entering the Great Nirvana at the time of his death, proceeding from the Four Dhyanas to the Great Nirvana, was, in my opinion, clearly a horizontal path, moving from the Form Samadhi to the Formless Samadhi (Great Nirvana).

Therefore, here I will present the process of Shakya's entry into the Great Nirvana at the time of his death and also show Osho Bhagwan's explanation regarding the two instances of Shakya's Nirvana.

Ultimately, since the process of disembodiment in Shakya's vertical path has not been made public, I have concluded that, as Shakya's vertical path, I can only present the ultimate of the horizontal path, which is the Great Nirvana.

Furthermore, it is said that Shakya attained great enlightenment through Vipassanā (breath awareness), so I would like to present Vipassanā as an apocryphal text.

The intersection of the Meditation Cross Map is "Love," but I believe that Formless Samadhi and Nirvana are also another intersection.