A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

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morning mist
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by morning mist »

Hi Nana,
Nana wrote: " impedes the jhāna factors of mindfulness and full awareness."
Perhaps there is a misconception regarding the jhana taught by Ajahn Brahmavamso, From step one all the way through jhana, there is no point where the person is not consciously aware . Awareness doesn't have to be towards the distractions of the 5 senses in the external world to be called aware and mindful.

Ajahn Brahm does not suggest that one is not conscious at any point in jhana. Often what we are used to seeing is that when someone is not aware of 5 sense world the person is unconscious. What we are not familiar with is a state where one is being conscious , mindful , and aware even when be don't hear things in the outside world. One is aware , mindful , and conscious , but not the outside world . That is something we don't often see or hear about.

In jhana you don't even notice the sounds of thunder or feel the water on your skin if there is a thunderstorm . Still in meditative absorption, you are fully alert and mindful , such as experiencing the happiness that is non-sensual. And you are not unconscious .

Is it possible to be conscious and awake and not perceive the world of the 5 senses ? The Buddha saids that it is:

"one CONSCIOUS AND AWAKE , in the midst of a heavy rain, with thunder rolling, lightning flashing, and thunderbolts crashing, SHOULD NEITHER SEE IT NOR HEAR THE NOISE…."

But where, Lord, were you?'
"'I was here, brother.' 'Yet, Lord, did you not see it?' 'I did not see it, brother.' 'BUT THE NOISE , Lord, you surely heard?' 'I DID NOT HEAR IT, brother.' Then that man asked me: 'Then, Lord, perhaps you slept?' 'No, brother, I was not sleeping.' 'Then, LORD, YOU WERE CONSCIOUS?' 'I WAS, brother.' Then that man said: 'Then, Lord, WHILE CONSCIOUS AND AWAKE, IN THE MIDST OF A HEAVY RAIN, WITH THUNDER ROLLING, LIGHTNING FLASHING, and THUNDERBOLTS CRASHING, YOU NEITHER SAW IT NOR HEARD THE NOISE?' And I answered him, saying: 'I DID NOT, brother.'= Mahaparinibbana Sutta

Nana wrote: This is another inaccurate characterization of jhāna.
Then please describe exactly how someone contemplate the dhamma inside jhana. Do you suggest that we use vitakka and vicara , or sanna ?


Mindfulness is brought to onepointedness in jhana ( samma samadhi). Where did it say samadhi is expansive.

With metta,
with metta,
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Assaji
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by Assaji »

Hi Morning Mist,
morning mist wrote:Perhaps there is a misconception regarding the jhana taught by Ajahn Brahmavamso.
I don't think there's any misconception. Here's what Brahmavamso writes:
If you want to know the way to develop that nimitta, then this fourth stage of developing the four jhanas is to pay attention to that aspect of the nimitta which is beautiful, which is attractive, which is joyful, the pleasant part of it. And again, it is at this stage where you have to be comfortable with pleasure and not be afraid of it, not fear that it is going to lead to some sort of attachment, because the pleasure of these stages can be very intense at times, literally overpowering: overpowering your sense of self, overpowering your control, overpowering your sensitivity to your physical body. So you have to look for that pleasure and happiness which is in the nimitta, and this becomes the fourth stage because once the mind has noticed the pleasure and happiness in the nimitta, that will act like what I call the magnet or the glue. It is that which will draw one's attention onto it, and it's not the will or the choice or the decision which takes the attention and puts it onto the samadhi nimitta. In fact once the choice, the intention, the orders inside yourself arise, they'll actually push you away. You have to let the whole process work because the samadhi nimitta at this stage is very pleasurable; it literally pulls the mind into it. Many meditators when the possibly experience their first taste of a jhana, experience the mind falling into a beautiful hole. And that's exactly what's happening. It's the joy, the bliss, the beauty of that nimitta which is before the mind that actually pulls the mind into it. So you don't need to do the pushing, you don't need to do the work. At this stage it becomes a natural process of the mind. Your job is just to get to that second stage, calm that breath down, allow the samadhi nimitta to arise. Once the samadhi nimitta arises strongly, then the jhana happens in and of itself.

Again, because the quality of knowing is very strong but very narrow in these states, while you are in these states, there is no way that you can truly assess where you are and what's happening to you. The ability to know through thinking, through analysing, is taken away from you in these states. You usually have to wait until you emerge from these states, until your ordinary thinking returns again, so you can really look back upon and analyse what has happened.

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IMO, this deliberate attention to the beautiful and attractive aspect of the mental object leads to the development of "rupa-raga"and "arupa-raga" - passions for jhana. And it is this passion which acts like "a magnet or a glue" in this case. Consequently, the jhana which occurs is devoid of sati and sampajanna, though there may be some residential awareness left.
Is it possible to be conscious and awake and not perceive the world of the 5 senses ? The Buddha saids that it is:

"one CONSCIOUS AND AWAKE , in the midst of a heavy rain, with thunder rolling, lightning flashing, and thunderbolts crashing, SHOULD NEITHER SEE IT NOR HEAR THE NOISE…."
Thank you for the quote. In the disembodied attainments (arupa-samapatti) one indeed does not have physical perception. This is explained in more detail in Vimuttimagga and Visuddhimagga.

With metta, Dmytro
Nyana
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by Nyana »

morning mist wrote:Then please describe exactly how someone contemplate the dhamma inside jhana. Do you suggest that we use vitakka and vicara , or sanna ?
Saññā. Saññā is necessary for discernment obtained through meditative development (bhāvanāmayā paññā).
morning mist wrote:Mindfulness is brought to onepointedness in jhana ( samma samadhi). Where did it say samadhi is expansive.
The Dhammasaṅgaṇī details a number of different jhānas, including the kasiṇa jhānas, the brahmavihāra jhānas, the asubha jhānas, and so on. All of these jhānas are capable of expansive development. Terms such as totality (kasiṇa), immeasurable (appamāṇa), and expansive (mahaggatā) which are used in the descriptions of these samādhis indicate the expansiveness of jhāna. MN 127 explains the meaning of expansive mind-liberation and indicates the way of development:
  • And what, householder, is the expansive liberation of mind (mahaggatā cetovimutti)? Here a monk abides resolved upon an area the size of the root of one tree, pervading it as expansive: this is called the expansive liberation of mind. Here a monk abides resolved upon an area the size of the roots of two or three trees, pervading it as expansive: this too is called the expansive liberation of mind. Here a monk abides resolved upon an area the size of one village, pervading it as expansive ... an area the size of two or three villages... an area the size of one major kingdom... an area the size of two or three major kingdoms... an area the size of the earth bounded by the ocean, pervading it as expansive: this too is called the expansive liberation of mind.
The Dhammasaṅgaṇī (1027) states that this expansiveness is distinctive of the mind engaged in jhāna:
  • What phenomena are expansive (mahaggatā)? There are skillful and neither-skillful-nor-unskillful phenomena of the form sphere (rūpāvacarā) and the formless sphere (arūpāvacarā), the feeling aggregate, recognition aggregate, fabrications aggregate, and consciousness aggregate; these phenomena are expansive.
MN 77 lists the ten kasiṇa jhānas, the first of which is earth-perception kasiṇa jhāna:
  • Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the ten totality spheres. One perceives the earth totality above, below, and across, undivided and immeasurable... And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the perfection and consummation of direct gnosis.
MN 121 explains the way of developing earth-perception kasiṇa jhāna:
  • Now, as well as before, I remain fully in a dwelling of emptiness. Just as this palace of Migara's mother is empty of elephants, cattle, & mares, empty of gold & silver, empty of assemblies of women & men, and there is only this non-emptiness — the singleness based on the community of monks; even so, Ananda, a monk — not attending to the perception of village, not attending to the perception of human being — attends to the singleness based on the perception of wilderness. His mind takes pleasure, finds satisfaction, settles, & indulges in its perception of wilderness.

    He discerns that 'Whatever disturbances that would exist based on the perception of village are not present. Whatever disturbances that would exist based on the perception of human being are not present. There is only this modicum of disturbance: the singleness based on the perception of wilderness.' He discerns that 'This mode of perception is empty of the perception of village. This mode of perception is empty of the perception of human being. There is only this non-emptiness: the singleness based on the perception of wilderness.' Thus he regards it as empty of whatever is not there. Whatever remains, he discerns as present: 'There is this.' And so this, his entry into emptiness, accords with actuality, is undistorted in meaning, & pure.

    Further, Ananda, the monk — not attending to the perception of human being, not attending to the perception of wilderness — attends to the singleness based on the perception of earth. His mind takes pleasure, finds satisfaction, settles, & indulges in its perception of earth. Just as a bull's hide is stretched free from wrinkles with a hundred stakes, even so — without attending to all the ridges & hollows, the river ravines, the tracts of stumps & thorns, the craggy irregularities of this earth — he attends to the singleness based on the perception of earth. His mind takes pleasure, finds satisfaction, settles, & indulges in its perception of earth.

    He discerns that 'Whatever disturbances that would exist based on the perception of human being are not present. Whatever disturbances that would exist based on the perception of wilderness are not present. There is only this modicum of disturbance: the singleness based on the perception of earth.' He discerns that 'This mode of perception is empty of the perception of human being. This mode of perception is empty of the perception of wilderness. There is only this non-emptiness: the singleness based on the perception of earth.' Thus he regards it as empty of whatever is not there. Whatever remains, he discerns as present: 'There is this.' And so this, his entry into emptiness, accords with actuality, is undistorted in meaning, & pure.
Sigālapita Theragāthā 1.18 describes skeleton-perception asubha jhāna:
  • There was an heir to the Buddha, a monk in the Bhesakala forest,
    Who suffused this whole earth with skeleton-perception,
    Quickly, I say, he abandoned passion for sensual pleasure.
The brahmavihāra jhānas are described in many places, such as AN 11.17:
  • Then again, a monk keeps pervading the first direction with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth. Thus above, below, and all around, everywhere, in its entirety, he keeps pervading the all-encompassing cosmos with a mind imbued with loving-kindness — abundant, expansive, immeasurable, without hostility, without ill will.
The other types of jhāna are listed in many suttas and detailed in the Dhammasaṅgaṇī, the Vibhaṅga, and the Paṭisambhidāmagga.

All the best,

Geoff
Nyana
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by Nyana »

Sylvester wrote:why did you omit the tail marked by XXXXXXXX in that section? It is very important to note that the sentence does not end with "...non-distraction" followed by a footstop as you have presented it. It ends with a semi-colon ";" followed by which reads -
...avikkhepo hoti; ye vā pana tasmiṃ samaye aññepi atthi paṭiccasamuppannā arūpino dhammā— ime dhammā kusalā.
Why do you persist in re-writing the Abhidhamma?
Just to add to my previous reply to your mistaken assumptions and fallacious accusations: Reading the Introduction to U Kyaw Khine's translation of the Dhammasaṅgaṇī may help you to understand the text. It states:
  • [ B]esides those fifty-six dhamma factors, there are also nine dhamma factors which may occur, wherever appropriate on the occasion of the arising of those fifty-six dhamma factors, thereby making up a total of sixty-five dhamma factors. These nine are denoted, by 'yevapana...dhamma in Pali. They are: 1. Chanda - Desire, 2. Adhimokkha - Decision, Choice, 3. Manasikara - Attention, 4. Tatramajjhattata - Balance of mind, Equanimity, 5. Karuna - Compassion, 6. Mudita - Sympathetic joy, 7. Sammavaca - Abstinence from evil speech, 8. Sammakammanta - Abstinence from evil action, 9. Samma-ajiva - Abstinence from evil livelihood.
Sylvester wrote:11 iddapaccayata relations which are possible (but not always present with each lokiya citta)
From the same Introduction:
  • The actual fact is that there are thirty dhamma factors occurring as fifty-six items in the complete list and these arise simultaneously.... The same fifty-six dhamma factors that constitute the Meritorious Thought pertaining to the Sensuous Sphere can be found in the Meritorious Thought pertaining to the Fine Material Sphere.
Sylvester wrote:If you're going to insist on reading this locative absolute formulation as importing the concomitance of all dhammas, that's your problem. The problem is not with the Dhammasangani, but your bizarre insistence on reading the Dhammasangani in the way that you do.
From the same Introduction:
  • It has been said above that fifty-six dhamma factor constitute the First Category of Meritorious Thought. There are two points to be made here. The first is that in the seventeen groups of dhamma factors mentioned above, the first group of dhamma factors, namely, the group of five dhamma factors headed by contact, is the most proximate cause for the arising of the meritorious thought; the second group which consists of the five factors of the first jhana is the most proximate cause for arising of the first group headed by contact. and so it goes on step by step till the seventeenth group. However, this is only an analytical view. The actual fact is that there are thirty dhamma factors occurring as fifty-six items in the complete list and these arise simultaneously.
Your qualms, as per usual, are completely unfounded.

All the best,

Geoff
morning mist
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by morning mist »

Hi Dmytro,
Dmytro wrote: IMO, this deliberate attention to the beautiful and attractive aspect of the mental object leads to the development of "rupa-raga"and "arupa-raga" - passions for jhana.
And it is this passion which acts like "a magnet or a glue" in this case.
Initially , but there are instructions to let go of it and develop insight after you attained jhana. The Buddha did not say not to attend to nimitta or not to practice jhana because it is pleasant. In the Pasakika Sutta, the Buddha distinguished what is wholesome pleasure ( Four stages of Jhanas that is Samma Samadhi ) and what is unwholesome pleasure ( worldly sense pleasure ).

'' These are the four modes of being attached and devoted to pleasure, Cunda, which conduce absolutely to unworldliness, to passionlessness, to cessation, to peace, to higher knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbana. What are the four ? " The four jhanas. - Pasakika Sutta

Dmytro wrote: Consequently, the jhana which occurs is devoid of sati and sampajanna, though there may be some residential awareness left.
One is always awake and aware just not of the outside world.

Also , there is no support for the claim that one goes beyond the 5 senses only in the arupa states. In the Therigatha there are examples of a lay woman entering the form jhana and when someone tried to pour hot oil over her in order to kill her and take her husband, it did not hurt her.

With metta,
with metta,
morning mist
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by morning mist »

Hi Nana,
Ñāṇa wrote: Saññā is necessary for discernment obtained through meditative development
Where in the sutta did it say that you use Perception ( sanna) while inside Samma Samadhi to develop Vipassana? Most of the suttas on perception suggest that we realize that Perception is non-self, perception is impermanent, perception leads to dukkha. The same goes with the other four aggregates. For example:

“ Perception is impermanent. That which is the cause, that which is the condition, for the appearing of Perception, that is also impermanent. How could Perception, produced by what is impermanent, ever be permanent?" - SN 22:18 Impermanent with cause

“So seeing, Bhikkhus, the instructed noble disciple is dispassionate towards body, feeling, perception, mental activities and consciousness.45 Being dispassionate he detaches himself, being detached he is released and in release is the knowledge of being released and he knows: Finished is birth, lived is the holy life, done is what had to be done, there is no more of this or that state." -SN 12:61 Uninstructed

“Herein, Bhikkhus, feelings are known to a Bhikkhu as they arise, known as they stay, known as they come to an end. Thoughts are known as they arise, known as they stay, known as they come to an end. Perceptions are known as they arise, known as they stay, known as they come to an end. In this manner, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu is clearly comprehending." -SN 47:35 Mindful

Ñāṇa wrote: The Dhammasaṅgaṇī details a number of different jhānas, including the kasiṇa jhānas, the brahmavihāra jhānas, the asubha jhānas, and so on.
I am aware that the Brahmaviharas and the other formless states are expansive. But here we are discussing the four jhanas found in Samma Samadhi in particular.
Ñāṇa wrote: " many people who rely on the Visuddhimagga jhāna descriptions without a careful study of all relevant older material) is going to have a very different understanding of what jhāna is, than someone who relies on the Tipiṭaka as canonical authority"
Let's keep the Commentaries to the minimum.
Ñāṇa wrote: of these jhānas are capable of expansive development. Terms such as totality (kasiṇa), immeasurable (appamāṇa), and expansive (mahaggatā) which are used in the descriptions of these samādhis indicate the expansiveness of jhāna. MN 127 explains the meaning of expansive mind-liberation and indicates the way of development.
Perhaps you missed my post on this earlier. Mahaggatam Cetovimutti refers to a different meditation. Only Adukkhamasukhaya cetovimutti refers to the first four jhanas.

According to MN 43 and MN 127, there are various types of Cetovimutti. Not all of these terms refers to the first four jhanas. For example, the word appamana refers to appamana cetovimutti , that is the the Four Brahmaviharas meditation.


There are :

1. Neither-Pleasant-nor-Unpleasant cetovimutti( adukkhamasukhaya cetovimuttiya)

2. Exalted Cetovimutti (Mahaggatam Cetovimutti , mahaggatam: lofty, become great)

3. Boundless cetovimutti (appamana cetovimutti),
4. Nothingness cetovimutti ( akincanna cetovimutti)
5. Signless cetovimutti (animittaya cetovimuttiya)
6. Voidness cetovimutti ( sunnata cetovimutti)

While the the Adukkhamasukhaya cetovimutti (1) refers to the four Jhanas found in Samma Samadhi, the other ones do not, including the Mahaggatam Cetovimutti. "And what is the way of explanation by which these states are different in meaning & different in name? "


1.Adukkhamasukhaya cetovimutti :

"Friend, how many conditions are there for the attainment of the Neither-Pleasant-nor-Unpleasant cetovimutti ( adukkhamasukhaya cetovimuttiya) ?”

"Friend, there are four conditions for the attainment of the neither-pleasant-nor-unpleasant cetovimutti. Here, a bhikkhu abandons pleasantness and unpleasantness, and with the setting down of previous joy and displeasure there is neither pain nor pleasure. And with mindfulness fully purified by equanimity, he enters and abides in the fourth jhana. These are the four conditions for the attainment of the neither-pleasant-nor-unpleasant cetovimutti ( adukkhamasukhaya cetovimuttiya). -MN 43


2. Exalted Cetovimutti (Mahaggatam Cetovimutti , mahaggatam: lofty, become great)

“And what, householder, is the exalted cetovimutti (mahaggata cetovimutti) ? Here a bhikkhu abides resolved upon an area the size of the root of one tree, pervading it as exalted: this is called the exalted cetovimutti (mahaggata cetovimutti). Here a bhikkhu abides resolved upon an area the size of one village, pervading it as exalted…an area the size of two or three villages…an area the size of one major kingdom…an area the size of two or three major kingdoms…an area the size of the earth bounded by the ocean, pervading it as exalted: this too is called the exalted cetovimutti (mahaggata cetovimutti). It is in this way, householder, that it can be understood how these states are different in meaning and different in name."- MN 127


3.Boundless cetovimutti - This refers to the Four Brahmaviharas

"The Boundless cetovimutti (appamana cetovimutti), the Nothingness cetovimutti ( akincanna cetovimutti) , the Voidness cetovimutti ( sunnata cetovimutti) , the Signless cetovimutti (animittaya cetovimuttiya):

“Here a bhikkhu abides with a mind imbued with loving kindness ( metta) pervading one direction, likewise the second, likewise the third, and likewise the fourth direction, above, below , around, and everywhere, to all as to himself, he abides pervading the all-encompassing world with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, abundant, expansive, boundless, without hostility and without ill will.

“ He abides with a mind imbued with compassion ( karuna)…..”

“ He abides with a mind imbued with altruistic joy ( karuna, sympathy in other’s welfare)…..”

“ He abides with a mind imbued with equanimity ( upekkha)pervading one direction, likewise the second, likewise the third, and likewise the fourth direction, above, below , around, and everywhere, to all as to himself, he abides pervading the all-encompassing world with a mind imbued with equanimity, abundant, expansive, boundless, without hostility and without ill will. This is called the limitless awareness-release.”


4. Nothingness cetovimutti

"And what is the Nothingness cetovimutti ? Here a bhikkhu completely passes beyond the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness , and aware that there is ’ nothing', he abides in the Sphere of Nothingness. This is called the Nothingness cetovimutti.


5. Signless cetovimutti

"And what is the Signless cetovimutti ? Here a bhikkhu not attending to all signs, a bhikkhu enters and abides in the signless concentration of mind.This is called the Signless cetovimutti .


6. Voidness cetovimutti

"And what is the Voidness cetovimutti ? Here the bhikkhu gone to the forest, to the root of a tree or to an empty house reflects: ‘ This is empty of a self or of anything belonging to a self. This is called the Voidness cetovimutti.


The Similarities Between Various types of Cetovimutti ?
“Here, friend, passion (raga) is a limiting factor (pamanakarano) , aversion ( dosa) is a limiting factor, delusion ( moha) is a limiting factor.

“In a bhikkhu whose mind is free from intoxication/ the taints ( khinasavassa) , these have been abandoned, pulled out with the roots, made like a palm stump, deprived of the conditions to arise again.

With Metta,
with metta,
Sylvester
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by Sylvester »

Ñāṇa wrote:
Sylvester wrote:At your leisure...
I think Ven. Yuttadhammo said it quite accurately in his critique of Ven. Brahmavamso's The Jhānas:
  • What I have a problem with is what seems clearly to be a distortion of the Buddha’s teaching in order to support his own way of teaching.
I would extend this to Ven. Sujato's methodology of beginning with a preconceived thesis and then attempting to force the suttas into agreement.

All the best,

Geoff
It is quite adequate to discount Ven Yuttadhammo's misgivings by referring to his category mistake discussed earlier.
Sylvester
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by Sylvester »

Ñāṇa wrote:
Sylvester wrote:Pls track down this Enlightenment Factor for my benefit.
Already done in the quotation from the Dhammasaṅgaṇī:
  • What at that time is the faculty of discernment? That which at that time is discernment, thorough understanding, investigation, comprehensive investigation, dhamma-investigation, consideration, discrimination, direct discrimination, erudite intelligence, proficiency, refined intelligence, discriminative examination, reflection, comparative examination, breadth of knowledge, wisdom that destroys defilements, penetrative wisdom, vipassanā, full awareness, discernment like a guiding goad, faculty of discernment, strength of discernment, discernment like a sword, discernment like a tower, discernment like light, discernment like radiance, discernment like a torch, discernment like a jewel, non-delusion, dhamma-investigation, right view, awakening factor of dhamma-investigation, a path factor, knowledge included in the path – this at that time is the faculty of discernment.

    What at that time is vipassanā? That which at that time is discernment, thorough understanding, investigation, comprehensive investigation, dhamma-investigation, consideration, discrimination, direct discrimination, erudite intelligence, proficiency, refined intelligence, discriminative examination, reflection, comparative examination, breadth of knowledge, wisdom that destroys defilements, penetrative wisdom, vipassanā, full awareness, discernment like a guiding goad, faculty of discernment, strength of discernment, discernment like a sword, discernment like a tower, discernment like light, discernment like radiance, discernment like a torch, discernment like a jewel, non-delusion, dhamma-investigation, right view, awakening factor of dhamma-investigation, a path factor, knowledge included in the path – this at that time is vipassanā.
All the best,

Geoff
You're still evading the elephant in the room. How is the Dhamma-Vicaya and Dhammavicayabojjhanga indicated in red above different from the Dhamma-Vicaya and Dhammavicayasambojjhanga in the suttas? The suttas which Dmytro and I cited clearly state that Dhamma-Vicaya and Dhammavicayasambojjhanga must have vicara, and be preceded by vitakka in Sati.

Let me just put it very simply -

Do you assert that one can vipassati without the Dhammavicayasambojjhanga?

Yes or No?


Pls explain how the Dhamma-Vicaya and Dhammavicayabojjhanga indicated in red above are different from the Dhamma-Vicaya and Dhammavicayasambojjhanga in the suttas. Citations pls, not ex cathedras.
Sylvester
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by Sylvester »

morning mist wrote:Hi Nana,
Nana wrote: " impedes the jhāna factors of mindfulness and full awareness."
Perhaps there is a misconception regarding the jhana taught by Ajahn Brahmavamso, From step one all the way through jhana, there is no point where the person is not consciously aware . Awareness doesn't have to be towards the distractions of the 5 senses in the external world to be called aware and mindful.

Ajahn Brahm does not suggest that one is not conscious at any point in jhana. Often what we are used to seeing is that when someone is not aware of 5 sense world the person is unconscious. What we are not familiar with is a state where one is being conscious , mindful , and aware even when be don't hear things in the outside world. One is aware , mindful , and conscious , but not the outside world . That is something we don't often see or hear about.

In jhana you don't even notice the sounds of thunder or feel the water on your skin if there is a thunderstorm . Still in meditative absorption, you are fully alert and mindful , such as experiencing the happiness that is non-sensual. And you are not unconscious .

Is it possible to be conscious and awake and not perceive the world of the 5 senses ? The Buddha saids that it is:

"one CONSCIOUS AND AWAKE , in the midst of a heavy rain, with thunder rolling, lightning flashing, and thunderbolts crashing, SHOULD NEITHER SEE IT NOR HEAR THE NOISE…."

But where, Lord, were you?'
"'I was here, brother.' 'Yet, Lord, did you not see it?' 'I did not see it, brother.' 'BUT THE NOISE , Lord, you surely heard?' 'I DID NOT HEAR IT, brother.' Then that man asked me: 'Then, Lord, perhaps you slept?' 'No, brother, I was not sleeping.' 'Then, LORD, YOU WERE CONSCIOUS?' 'I WAS, brother.' Then that man said: 'Then, Lord, WHILE CONSCIOUS AND AWAKE, IN THE MIDST OF A HEAVY RAIN, WITH THUNDER ROLLING, LIGHTNING FLASHING, and THUNDERBOLTS CRASHING, YOU NEITHER SAW IT NOR HEARD THE NOISE?' And I answered him, saying: 'I DID NOT, brother.'= Mahaparinibbana Sutta

Nana wrote: This is another inaccurate characterization of jhāna.
Then please describe exactly how someone contemplate the dhamma inside jhana. Do you suggest that we use vitakka and vicara , or sanna ?


Mindfulness is brought to onepointedness in jhana ( samma samadhi). Where did it say samadhi is expansive.

With metta,
Hi morning mist

It's not a misconception, but a clear misrepresentation. Some people just need strawmen.

These strawmen tactics allege that Ajahn Brahm teaches asanna samadhi. If Ajahn Brahm's students were truly asanna, there would be absolutely no possibility for experiencing, remembering, recollection and review of the states that were and had passed in the Jhanas. But time and time again, Ajahn Brahm emphasises the Anapanasati's 4th tetrad of dhammānupassī. So much data being collected and remembered from a jhana does NOT count as asanna.

Dhammavicaya truly has to function outside of a jhana. I would like to see Geoff give a categorical answer to my 2 questions above about his brand of vipassati and whether it proceeds in the absence of Dhammavicaya.
Last edited by Sylvester on Thu Mar 10, 2011 2:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by Sylvester »

Dmytro wrote:I don't think there's any misconception. Here's what Brahmavamso writes:
If you want to know the way to develop that nimitta, then this fourth stage of developing the four jhanas is to pay attention to that aspect of the nimitta which is beautiful, which is attractive, which is joyful, the pleasant part of it. And again, it is at this stage where you have to be comfortable with pleasure and not be afraid of it, not fear that it is going to lead to some sort of attachment, because the pleasure of these stages can be very intense at times, literally overpowering: overpowering your sense of self, overpowering your control, overpowering your sensitivity to your physical body. So you have to look for that pleasure and happiness which is in the nimitta, and this becomes the fourth stage because once the mind has noticed the pleasure and happiness in the nimitta, that will act like what I call the magnet or the glue. It is that which will draw one's attention onto it, and it's not the will or the choice or the decision which takes the attention and puts it onto the samadhi nimitta. In fact once the choice, the intention, the orders inside yourself arise, they'll actually push you away. You have to let the whole process work because the samadhi nimitta at this stage is very pleasurable; it literally pulls the mind into it. Many meditators when the possibly experience their first taste of a jhana, experience the mind falling into a beautiful hole. And that's exactly what's happening. It's the joy, the bliss, the beauty of that nimitta which is before the mind that actually pulls the mind into it. So you don't need to do the pushing, you don't need to do the work. At this stage it becomes a natural process of the mind. Your job is just to get to that second stage, calm that breath down, allow the samadhi nimitta to arise. Once the samadhi nimitta arises strongly, then the jhana happens in and of itself.

Again, because the quality of knowing is very strong but very narrow in these states, while you are in these states, there is no way that you can truly assess where you are and what's happening to you. The ability to know through thinking, through analysing, is taken away from you in these states. You usually have to wait until you emerge from these states, until your ordinary thinking returns again, so you can really look back upon and analyse what has happened.

http://www.viet.net/anson/ebud/ebmed042.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
IMO, this deliberate attention to the beautiful and attractive aspect of the mental object leads to the development of "rupa-raga"and "arupa-raga" - passions for jhana. And it is this passion which acts like "a magnet or a glue" in this case. Consequently, the jhana which occurs is devoid of sati and sampajanna, though there may be some residential awareness left.
Is it possible to be conscious and awake and not perceive the world of the 5 senses ? The Buddha saids that it is:

"one CONSCIOUS AND AWAKE , in the midst of a heavy rain, with thunder rolling, lightning flashing, and thunderbolts crashing, SHOULD NEITHER SEE IT NOR HEAR THE NOISE…."
Thank you for the quote. In the disembodied attainments (arupa-samapatti) one indeed does not have physical perception. This is explained in more detail in Vimuttimagga and Visuddhimagga.

With metta, Dmytro
Hi Dmytro

If this indulgence in the subha nimitta of a dhamma were such a bad thing, why would the Buddha have recommended it as part of the Third Vimokkha or as the Subha Vimokkha? I see the Buddha teaching a gradual Path, and if niramisa sukha is not touched, how will His disciples desire to escape samisa sukha?

You might recall that conversation that Ven Ananda had with Unnabha in SN 51.15. It's OK with start with desire, in order to abandon desire. If the mind has not tasted the joys of niramisa sukha, how will it be prepared to give up samisa sukha?

As for the arupa-samapatti not having kamasanna, I hope you won't make the same logical mistake of the fallacy of denying the antecedent which Geoff committed with MN 43.
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by Sylvester »

Ñāṇa wrote:
Sylvester wrote:why did you omit the tail marked by XXXXXXXX in that section? It is very important to note that the sentence does not end with "...non-distraction" followed by a footstop as you have presented it. It ends with a semi-colon ";" followed by which reads -
...avikkhepo hoti; ye vā pana tasmiṃ samaye aññepi atthi paṭiccasamuppannā arūpino dhammā— ime dhammā kusalā.
Why do you persist in re-writing the Abhidhamma?
Just to add to my previous reply to your mistaken assumptions and fallacious accusations: Reading the Introduction to U Kyaw Khine's translation of the Dhammasaṅgaṇī may help you to understand the text. It states:
  • [ B]esides those fifty-six dhamma factors, there are also nine dhamma factors which may occur, wherever appropriate on the occasion of the arising of those fifty-six dhamma factors, thereby making up a total of sixty-five dhamma factors. These nine are denoted, by 'yevapana...dhamma in Pali. They are: 1. Chanda - Desire, 2. Adhimokkha - Decision, Choice, 3. Manasikara - Attention, 4. Tatramajjhattata - Balance of mind, Equanimity, 5. Karuna - Compassion, 6. Mudita - Sympathetic joy, 7. Sammavaca - Abstinence from evil speech, 8. Sammakammanta - Abstinence from evil action, 9. Samma-ajiva - Abstinence from evil livelihood.
Sylvester wrote:11 iddapaccayata relations which are possible (but not always present with each lokiya citta)
From the same Introduction:
  • The actual fact is that there are thirty dhamma factors occurring as fifty-six items in the complete list and these arise simultaneously.... The same fifty-six dhamma factors that constitute the Meritorious Thought pertaining to the Sensuous Sphere can be found in the Meritorious Thought pertaining to the Fine Material Sphere.
Sylvester wrote:If you're going to insist on reading this locative absolute formulation as importing the concomitance of all dhammas, that's your problem. The problem is not with the Dhammasangani, but your bizarre insistence on reading the Dhammasangani in the way that you do.
From the same Introduction:
  • It has been said above that fifty-six dhamma factor constitute the First Category of Meritorious Thought. There are two points to be made here. The first is that in the seventeen groups of dhamma factors mentioned above, the first group of dhamma factors, namely, the group of five dhamma factors headed by contact, is the most proximate cause for the arising of the meritorious thought; the second group which consists of the five factors of the first jhana is the most proximate cause for arising of the first group headed by contact. and so it goes on step by step till the seventeenth group. However, this is only an analytical view. The actual fact is that there are thirty dhamma factors occurring as fifty-six items in the complete list and these arise simultaneously.
Your qualms, as per usual, are completely unfounded.

All the best,

Geoff
And if you want to foist the Commentarial interpretation of concomitant cetasikas which are either universals or particulars, that's fine. The Dhammasangani does not say this - U Kyaw Khine has done nothing more than what an orthodox Theravadin would do, namely cite the Commentarial essay on the Dhammasangani. And the Commentarial requirement for concomitance makes perfect sense within the Commentarial approach, because the Commentarial approach treats the Abhidhamma's duration of "tasmin samaye" as being a "khana", where the citta is infinitesimally momentary/khanika.

For someone who has such high disdain for the Pali Commentaries, your resort to the Commentaries certainly looks promiscuous here. Elsewhere, you've indicated your rejection of radical momentariness, but here you have no qualms applying it. You're not weaving a tapestry but hobbling together a patchwork of mutually inconsistent theories. The "pamsukula civara" is recommended for monastic robes, but not for Dhamma.

Clutching at straws?
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by Nyana »

Sylvester wrote:Do you assert that one can vipassati without the Dhammavicayasambojjhanga?
This is clearly indicated in the Dhammasaṅgaṇī. Without the discernment faculty (paññindriya, where dhammavicayasambojjhaṅga and vipassanā are said to be subsets), being able to function in the absence of vitakka and vicāra there would be no possibility of J2-J4 path attainment. The Dhammasaṅgaṇī Cittuppādakaṇḍa Lokuttarakusala Suddhikapaṭipadā lists both the discernment faculty and vipassanā as separate supramundane dhammas occurring at the time of attaining the noble path via supramundane jhāna and abiding in that path attainment via resultant supramundane jhāna. And as also already mentioned, the Mahāniddesa equates awakening (bodhi) with gnosis of the four paths (catūsu maggesu ñāṇa), the faculty of discernment (paññindriya), the strength of discernment (paññābala), the dhamma-discrimination factor of awakening (dhammavicayasambojjhaṅga), investigation (vīmaṃsā), clear seeing (vipassanā), and right view (sammādiṭṭhi).
Sylvester wrote:Pls explain how the Dhamma-Vicaya and Dhammavicayabojjhanga indicated in red above are different from the Dhamma-Vicaya and Dhammavicayasambojjhanga in the suttas. Citations pls, not ex cathedras.
The citations have already been provided from the Dhammasaṅgaṇī. I can understand why you may have difficulty understanding the synthesis of the Abhidhammapiṭaka, as it presents an integral eightfold path, whereas Ven. Brahmavamso's teachings aren't very integral. I would recommend beginning with Wings to Awakening by Ven. Ṭhānissaro, and The Buddhist Path to Awakening by R. M. Gethin.

All the best,

Geoff
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by Nyana »

morning mist wrote:Most of the suttas on perception suggest that we realize that Perception is non-self, perception is impermanent, perception leads to dukkha. The same goes with the other four aggregates.
There is no possibility of attaining or abiding in the four jhānas without apperception, just as there is no possibility of attaining or abiding in the four jhānas without feeling. Just because the aggregates are impermanent, unsatisfactory, and selfless doesn't mean that they aren't to be engaged for meditative development. There's no possibility of developing the path otherwise.
morning mist wrote:I am aware that the Brahmaviharas and the other formless states are expansive. But here we are discussing the four jhanas found in Samma Samadhi in particular.
The kasiṇa jhānas, the brahmavihāra jhānas, the asubha jhānas, and so on, cover the four jhānas. Developed within the context of the noble eightfold path they are all sammāsamādhi.
morning mist wrote:Let's keep the Commentaries to the minimum.
Of course. I'm not relying on commentaries, I'm relying on the Tipiṭaka. Failure to refer to the Tipiṭaka to assist in clarifying terms and passages in the suttas leads to the same problematic errors of interpretation and meaning made by Ven. Brahmavamso and Ven. Sujato.
morning mist wrote:Mahaggatam Cetovimutti refers to a different meditation. Only Adukkhamasukhaya cetovimutti refers to the first four jhanas.
Not so. I've already provided the reference to the Dhammasaṅgaṇī which explains mahaggatā in the context of jhāna. The term cetovimutti is used in different ways in different contexts (e.g. mettā cetovimuti, adukkhamasukhā cetovimutti, etc. Cf. Bhante G. A Critical Analysis of the Jhānas, p. 355) where it often refers to meditative attainments realized through the development of calm (samathabhāvanā). AN 2.32 Vijjābhāgiyā Sutta:
  • When calm (samatha) is developed, what purpose does it serve? The mind is developed. And what is the benefit of a developed mind? Passion is abandoned.... Defiled by passion, the mind is not released.... Thus, monks, from the fading away of passion there is liberation of mind (cetovimutti).
This use of mahaggatā cetovimuti refers to jhāna attainment. These terms as they relate to the jhānas are standardized in the Abhidhammapiṭaka.

All the best,

Geoff
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by Sylvester »

Ñāṇa wrote:
Sylvester wrote:Do you assert that one can vipassati without the Dhammavicayasambojjhanga?
This is clearly indicated in the Dhammasaṅgaṇī. Without the discernment faculty (paññindriya, where dhammavicayasambojjhaṅga and vipassanā are said to be subsets), being able to function in the absence of vitakka and vicāra there would be no possibility of J2-J4 path attainment. The Dhammasaṅgaṇī Cittuppādakaṇḍa Lokuttarakusala Suddhikapaṭipadā lists both the discernment faculty and vipassanā as separate supramundane dhammas occurring at the time of attaining the noble path via supramundane jhāna and abiding in that path attainment via resultant supramundane jhāna. And as also already mentioned, the Mahāniddesa equates awakening (bodhi) with gnosis of the four paths (catūsu maggesu ñāṇa), the faculty of discernment (paññindriya), the strength of discernment (paññābala), the dhamma-discrimination factor of awakening (dhammavicayasambojjhaṅga), investigation (vīmaṃsā), clear seeing (vipassanā), and right view (sammādiṭṭhi).
Sylvester wrote:Pls explain how the Dhamma-Vicaya and Dhammavicayabojjhanga indicated in red above are different from the Dhamma-Vicaya and Dhammavicayasambojjhanga in the suttas. Citations pls, not ex cathedras.
The citations have already been provided from the Dhammasaṅgaṇī. I can understand why you may have difficulty understanding the synthesis of the Abhidhammapiṭaka, as it presents an integral eightfold path, whereas Ven. Brahmavamso's teachings aren't very integral. I would recommend beginning with Wings to Awakening by Ven. Ṭhānissaro, and The Buddhist Path to Awakening by R. M. Gethin.

All the best,

Geoff
I wanted a categorical Yes or No, Geoff.

Are you prepared to state it?
Nyana
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Re: A Critique of Brahmavamso’s “The Jhanas”

Post by Nyana »

Sylvester wrote:For someone who has such high disdain for the Pali Commentaries, your resort to the Commentaries certainly looks promiscuous here.
The concomitance is quite obvious from the text itself, taken in context. It's been noticed that one of your favorite diversion tactics for raising qualms which are no more than red herrings is to attempt grammatical distinctions which have no relevance to the passage in question. And FTR, I don't have "high disdain" for the commentaries.

All the best,

Geoff
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