Human Development
Formless-realm awareness
Description:
This state of awareness is characterized as four-fold; and includes the representations of infinite space, infinite consciousness, nothing-at-all and neither-thoughts-nor-the-absence-of-thoughts (also called the Peak of Existence). The four-fold states are said to arise from four meditative stabilizations or equalizations (samapatti) and particular techniques (prayoga). At the summit is the diminished ideation (samjna) which can, however, be surpassed by a state of non-ideation with a stabilization called [cessation], allowing mental phenomena to halt for a limited period of time. This is not nirvana as there is still attachment to existence.Context:
In Tibetan Sakya Buddhism this is one of the states in the "Ascension Stages Game". In some sets it is numbered 36 on the board.<