Special insight and preparations as states (Buddhism)

This stage is based on the achievement of actual [calm abiding]

; the concentrations and formless absorptions may be prepared for, and special insight (vipashyana) cultivated. Union of calm abiding and special insight with [emptiness]

as object prepares the yogi for initial direct [cognition]

of emptiness.

There are seven preparations (samantaka) or mental contemplations (manaskara) that are the means of attaining each of the four concentrations (dhyana) in the Form Realm. Clear conceptual perception of [suchness]

is achieved during the [heat]

stage of the preparation path; this is followed by a heightening of the perception in the [peak]

period of the path, when one passes beyond sorrow at the instability or annihilation of roots of virtue. Then follows a period of [forbearance]

. Here there is no contradistinction between the subject - mind of special insight, and object - emptiness of meditation. The yogi attains endurance and fearlessness with respect to emptiness. Finally there is the time of [supreme mundane qualities]

, when the cognizing object can no longer be ascertained and the meditative stabilization so achieved precedes generation of the [path of seeing]

.