Human Development
Trances and mental absorptions
Description:
Concentration of the mind allows it to enter the fine-material (rupaloka) sphere where it may progressively experience 4 trance states. Beyond this the trances may progress into the immaterial (arupaloka) sphere and 4 additional stages of absorption. The jhana lead to mundane and supermundane (lokuttara) insights or immediate intuitive knowledge (vipassana). Some 18 chief kinds of insight are enumerated.Context:
In southern Buddhism, bhavana (yoga) with its mental trances and absorptions produces insight or wisdom (panna), tranquillity (samatha) and the gnosis of light (samadhi). The fourth trance of the five-material sphere is also the starting point for the development of the 6 kinds of [higher spiritual forces] (abhinna) and the [roads to power] (iddhi-pada).< Broader:
Dispositions of consciousness Narrower:
Third trance of the fine-material sphereFirst trance of the fine-material sphereThird absorption in the immaterial sphereSecond trance of the fine-material sphereFirst absorption in the immaterial sphereFourth trance of the fine-material sphereFourth absorption in the immaterial sphereSecond absorption in the immaterial sphere Related:
Subjects for meditation