The Buddha explains how the practice of jhana leads to progressive stages of cessation and stillness. Only when the defilements are finally extinguished, however, is true peace and stillness achieved.

Then a certain monk went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One: "Just now, lord, while I was alone in seclusion, this train of thought arose in my awareness: 'Three feelings have been spoken of by the Blessed One: a feeling of pleasure, a feeling of pain (stress), & a feeling of neither pleasure nor pain. These are the three feelings spoken of by the Blessed One. But the Blessed One has said: "Whatever is felt comes under stress (pain)." Now in what connection was this stated by the Blessed One: "Whatever is felt comes under stress (pain)?"'"

"Excellent, monk. Excellent. These three feelings have been spoken of by me: a feeling of pleasure, a feeling of pain (stress), & a feeling of neither pleasure nor pain. These are the three feelings spoken of by me. But I have also said: 'Whatever is felt comes under stress (pain).' That I have stated simply in connection with the inconstancy of fabrications. That I have stated simply in connection with the nature of fabrications to end...in connection with the nature of fabrications to fall away...to fade away...to cease...in connection with the nature of fabrications to change.

"And I have also taught the step-by-step cessation of fabrications. When one has attained the first jhana, speech has ceased. When one has attained the second jhana, initial application & sustained application have ceased. When one has attained the third jhana, rapture has ceased. When one has attained the fourth jhana, in-and-out breathing has ceased. When one has attained the sphere of the infinitude of space, the perception of forms has ceased. When one has attained the sphere of the infinitude of consciousness, the perception of the sphere of the infinitude of space has ceased. When one has attained the sphere of nothingness, the perception of the sphere of the infinitude of consciousness has ceased. When one has attained the sphere of neither-perception nor non-perception, the perception of the sphere of nothingness has ceased. When one has attained the cessation of perception & feeling, perception & feeling have ceased. When a monk's effluents have ended, passion has ceased, aversion has ceased, delusion has ceased.

"Then, monk, I have also taught the step-by-step stilling of fabrications. When one has attained the first jhana, speech has stilled. When one has attained the second jhana, initial application & sustained application have stilled. When one has attained the third jhana, rapture has been stilled. When one has attained the fourth jhana, in-and-out breathing has been stilled. When one has attained the sphere of the infinitude of space, the perception of forms has been stilled. When one has attained the sphere of the infinitude of consciousness, the perception of the sphere of the infinitude of space has been stilled. When one has attained the sphere of nothingness, the perception of the sphere of the infinitude of consciousness has been stilled. When one has attained the sphere of neither-perception nor non-perception, the perception of the sphere of nothingness has been stilled. When one has attained the cessation of perception & feeling, perception & feeling have been stilled. When a monk's effluents have ended, passion has been stilled, aversion has been stilled, delusion has been stilled.
 

Samyutta Nikaya XXXVI.11

Adapted from source : http://www.mahindarama.com/e-tipitaka/samyutta-nikaya/sn36-11.htm
 

Home | Links | Contact

Copy Right Issues  © DhammaTalks.net