Human Development
Dwelling in the third jhana
Description:
Reviewing the second jhana reveals the threat of the nearness of applied and sustained thought. Rapture or happiness seems gross, while bliss and unification or collectedness of mind seem calm and peaceful. Again bringing the subject of meditation to mind, the purpose being to abandon the gross factor and obtain the two peaceful factors, the process of appearance of absorption occurs. Happiness fades away - there is distaste for it - and it is stilled, just as applied and sustained thought have already been stilled. It gives way to a sense of dispassionate bliss, there is equanimity in the jhana sense. The meditator is mindful and fully aware in the sense of personal attributes of razor sharpness, more subtle than in the previous jhanas. The latter leads to bliss at the mental level and, on leaving the jhana, at the physical level; but this bliss implies no greed for bliss. So the two factors are bliss and unification of mind.Like the first and second jhana it is said to be good in three ways: beginning (purification of the way), which is [access]; middle (intensification of equanimity), which is [absorption]; end (satisfaction), which is [reviewing]. It also has ten characteristics. Again, through practice, the meditator acquires mastery in the third jhana through the habits of: adverting to the jhana; attaining the jhana; resolving and steadying the duration of the jhana; emerging from the jhana; reviewing the jhana. He can then end his attachment to the third jhana and commence doing what is necessary to attain the fourth.