Can the Mind and Body be separated from each other? For an ordinary person this would not be possible. But, strong will power of an improved mind would make it possible for one to experience such state of existence.
54 types of consciousness pertaining to the sensuous-sphere (Kamavachara chiththas) arise without much of an effort in accordance with one’s actions. Form-sphere consciousness (Rupavachara chiththas) and Formless-sphere consciousness (Arupavachara chiththas) does not arise as such for any person. As described in the previous episode, these Jhana chiththas are developed by extensive concentration of meditation. Therefore, these chiththas are much higher in nobility and purity. In that aspect, both Rupavachara chiththas and Arupavachara chiththas are together called as “Sublime Consciousness” or Mahaggatha Chiththas.
Formless-Sphere Moral Consciousness (Arupavachara Kusala Chiththas)
Rupavachara chiththas are developed by meditation of concentration on a form object. The aspirant is enwrapped with the Jhana of Upekkha Ekaggatha sahitha Panchamajjana at the last stage of Rupavachara Jhana chiththas. This Rupavachara panchamajjana would provide the basis for Arupavachara Jhanas. Following are the 4 types of “Formless-Sphere Moral Consciousness” (Arupavachara Kusala Chiththas);
1. Akasananchayathana Kusala Chiththa
Moral Jhana Consciousness dwelling on the “Infinity of Space”
2. Vinnananchayathana Kusala Chiththa
Moral Jhana Consciousness dwelling on the “Infinity of Consciousness”
3. Akinchannayathana Kusala Chiththa
Moral Jhana Consciousness dwelling on the “Nothingness”
4. Nevasannanasannayathana Kusala Chiththa
Moral Jhana Consciousness dwelling on the “Perception neither no nor none-no is”
Aspirant will continue to concentrate on the conceptualized image (Patibhaga nimiththa) and extend it towards the “Space” and then concentrate on the space which is “Infinite”. The concentration would get focused on to the concept of “Infinite is Space” or the Akaso Ananto. At this stage, what is visualized by the aspirant is merely a concept.
The “Space” does not have any shape. It would not be possible to see a beginning or the end of it. Therefore the space is infinite. In that sense it could be said that it is “Formless”. The state of Jhana developed by concentrating on “Infinite is Space” is the first “Formless-Sphere Moral Consciousness” (Arupavachara Kusala Chiththa) and is named as Akasananchayathana Kusala Chiththa.
Once the aspirant is established in the first Arupa Jhana, he would leave the concept of Space and capture the Consciousness or the Vinnana of it. Then he would concentrate on this Vinnana which is yet again infinite so that the concentration would get focused to “Infinite is Consciousness” or Vinnano Ananto. This would develop the second Arupa Jhana chiththa of Vinnananchayathana Kusala Chiththa.
Then the aspirant will again take the first Jhana consciousness as the object and concentrates that “There is nothing whatsoever” or Naththi Chinchi and develop the third Arupa Jhana of Akinchannayathana Kusala Chiththa.
By this time consciousness of the aspirant has become extremely smooth as it could not be definitely said whether there is any consciousness or not. By taking the third Jhana as the object of concentration, the fourth Jhana is developed and that is a mental state where the aspirant would experience a situation where there is neither no perception nor the perception is there (Nevasanna Nasanna). This is the smoothest Jhana state of all and this chiththa is called Nevasannanasannayathana Kusala Chiththa.
All these Arupvachara Jhanas are featured with Upekkha Ekaggatha as in the fifth Rupavachara Jhana.
Formless Worlds
The aspirant who develops Arupa Jhanas has understood the suffering with form or the body. The one who die with these Jhana states would get resultant consciousness in a Formless-Sphere (Arupavachara Loka). The corresponding consciousness arise in this formless-spheres are known as “Formless-Sphere Resultant Consciousness” (Arupavachara Vipaka Chiththa) and 4 of them would be as “Akasannayathana Vipaka Chiththatha” and so on.
For each of the Arupa Jhana there are 4 corresponding formless worlds. These are the purest realms of 31 realms and the existence of these realms is entirely of mind. The beings in this realm do not experience physical suffering and the life here is very much pleasant.
Formless-Sphere Functional Consciousness (Arupavachara Kriya Chiththa)
Buddhas and Arhaths also develop these Jhanas and since they do not have any resultant effects they are known as “Formless-Sphere Functional Consciousness” (Arupavachara Kriya Chiththa) and would be as “Akasannayathana Kriya Chiththa” and so on.
Goal of a Buddhist
It was mentioned that the existence in the formless realms is very much pleasant. But this is not supposed to be the ultimate destination of any Buddhist. A Buddhist should proceed further towards attaining Nibbana. The aspirant who is established in Samatha Bhvana should continue with Vipassana Bhavana to understand things as they truly are in order to attain Nibbana.
The next episode would discuss the Supramundane Consciousness (Lokuththara Chiththas) which would arise in the path towards the Nibbana.
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