English
The oneness of the manifestation of giving and relinquishment, the oneness of the manifestation of the sign of tranquility, the oneness of the manifestation of the characteristic of dissolution, the oneness of the manifestation of cessation. The oneness of the manifestation of giving and relinquishment is for those devoted to generosity; the oneness of the manifestation of the sign of tranquility is for those dedicated to higher consciousness; the oneness of the manifestation of the characteristic of dissolution is for those practicing insight; and the oneness of the manifestation of cessation is for noble individuals – by these four ways, the mind that has attained oneness belongs to the purification of the path. and it is, and strengthened by equanimity, and delighted by wisdom. What is the beginning of the first jhāna, what is the middle, what is the end? The purification of practice is the beginning of the first jhāna, the strengthening by equanimity is the middle, the delight is the end. The purification of practice is the beginning of the first jhāna. How many characteristics does the beginning have? The beginning has three characteristics. From that which is its hindrance, the mind is purified, being purified, the mind enters the middle sign of tranquility, having entered, the mind leaps into it. That by which the mind is purified from hindrance, and that by which, being purified, the mind enters the middle sign of tranquility, and that by which, having entered, the mind leaps into it. The purification of practice is the beginning of the first jhāna. These are the three characteristics of the beginning. Therefore it is said – "The first jhāna is beautiful in the beginning and endowed with characteristics." The strengthening by equanimity is the middle of the first jhāna. How many characteristics does the middle have? The middle has three characteristics. It regards the purified mind with equanimity, it regards that which has entered tranquility with equanimity, it regards the establishment of oneness with equanimity. That by which it regards the purified mind with equanimity, and that by which it regards that which has entered tranquility with equanimity, and that by which it regards the establishment of oneness with equanimity – the strengthening by equanimity is the middle of the first jhāna. These are the three characteristics of the middle. Therefore it is said – "The first jhāna is beautiful in the middle and endowed with characteristics." The delight is the end of the first jhāna. How many characteristics does the end have? The end has four characteristics. The delight is by way of not transgressing the states arisen therein, the delight is by way of the faculties having one taste, the delight is by way of carrying on the effort conducive to it, the delight is by way of cultivation. The delight is the end of the first jhāna. These are the four characteristics of the end. Therefore it is said – "The first jhāna and it is beautiful at the end and endowed with characteristics. Thus, the mind, having gone through three stages, is threefold beautiful, endowed with ten characteristics, and endowed with initial application, and endowed with sustained application, and endowed with rapture, and endowed with happiness, and endowed with the mind's resolve, and endowed with faith, and endowed with energy, and endowed with mindfulness, and endowed with concentration, and endowed with wisdom. What is the beginning, what is the middle, what is the end of the second jhāna? For the second jhāna, purity of practice is the beginning, the cultivation of equanimity is the middle, exhilaration is the end. Thus, the mind, having gone through three stages, is threefold beautiful, endowed with ten characteristics, and endowed with rapture, and endowed with happiness, and endowed with the mind's resolve, and endowed with faith, and endowed with energy, and endowed with mindfulness, and endowed with concentration, and endowed with wisdom. What is the beginning, what is the middle, what is the end of the third jhāna?... Thus, the mind, having gone through three stages, is threefold beautiful, endowed with ten characteristics, and endowed with happiness, and endowed with the mind's resolve, and endowed with faith, and endowed with energy, and endowed with mindfulness, and endowed with concentration, and endowed with wisdom. What is the beginning, what is the middle, what is the end of the fourth jhāna?... Thus, the mind, having gone through three stages, is threefold beautiful, and endowed with ten characteristics, and endowed with equanimity, and endowed with the mind's resolve, and endowed with faith, and endowed with energy, and endowed with mindfulness, and endowed with concentration, and endowed with wisdom. For the attainment of the sphere of infinite space... for the attainment of the sphere of infinite consciousness... for the attainment of the sphere of nothingness... for the attainment of the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception, what is the beginning, what is the middle, what is the end?... Thus, the mind, having gone through three stages, is threefold beautiful, endowed with ten characteristics, and endowed with equanimity, and endowed with the mind's resolve... and endowed with wisdom. What is the beginning, what is the middle, what is the end of contemplation of impermanence? Thus, the mind gone to three turnings, having three kinds of welfare, endowed with ten characteristics, it is endowed with initial application, and endowed with sustained application, and endowed with rapture, and endowed with happiness, and endowed with the mind's resolution, and endowed with faith, and endowed with energy, and endowed with mindfulness, and endowed with concentration, and endowed with wisdom. By contemplation of suffering... by contemplation of non-self... by contemplation of disenchantment... by contemplation of dispassion... by contemplation of cessation... by contemplation of relinquishment... by contemplation of destruction... by contemplation of vanishing... by contemplation of transformation... by contemplation of the signless... by contemplation of the desireless... by contemplation of emptiness... by insight into phenomena with higher wisdom... by knowledge and vision of things as they are... by contemplation of danger... by contemplation of reflection... by contemplation of turning away... and endowed with wisdom. What is the beginning, what is the middle, what is the end of the stream-entry path... the once-returner path... the non-returner path... the Arahant path? For the Arahant path, purity of practice is the beginning, the cultivation of equanimity is the middle, exhilaration is the end. Purity of practice is the beginning of the Arahant path. How many characteristics does the beginning have? The beginning has three characteristics. From whatever is its hindrance, the mind is purified. Being purified, the mind enters the middle sign of tranquility. Having entered, the mind leaps into it. That by which the mind is purified from hindrance, and that by which, being purified, the mind enters the middle sign of tranquility, and that by which, having entered, the mind leaps into it – this is the purity of practice, the beginning of the Arahant path. These are the three characteristics of the beginning. Therefore it is said: "The Arahant path is beautiful in the beginning and endowed with characteristics." The cultivation of equanimity is the middle of the Arahant path. How many characteristics does the middle have? The middle has three characteristics. It regards the purified mind with equanimity. It regards that which has entered tranquility with equanimity. It regards the establishment of unity with equanimity. And that by which it regards the purified mind with equanimity... observes, and observes one who has entered tranquility, and observes the establishment of oneness. Therefore it is said – "The path of Arahantship is beautiful in the middle and endowed with characteristics." The exultation of the path of Arahantship is the culmination. How many characteristics does the culmination have? The culmination has four characteristics. Therein, exultation by not transgressing the arisen phenomena, exultation by the singleness of taste of the faculties, exultation by carrying on the effort leading to that, exultation by cultivation. The exultation of the path of Arahantship is the culmination. These are the four characteristics of the culmination. Therefore it is said – "The path of Arahantship is beautiful at the end and endowed with characteristics." Thus, the mind that has gone through the three rounds, beautiful in three ways, endowed with ten characteristics, is endowed with initial application, and endowed with sustained application, and endowed with rapture, and endowed with happiness, and endowed with the establishment of mind, and endowed with faith, and endowed with effort, and endowed with mindfulness, and endowed with concentration, and endowed with wisdom. 159. The sign is in-breaths and out-breaths, not an object for a single mind; And for one not knowing the three phenomena, development is not found. The sign is in-breaths and out-breaths, not an object for a single mind; And for one knowing the three phenomena, development is found. How are these three phenomena not objects for a single mind, and how are these three phenomena not unknown, and how does the mind not go astray, and how is effort evident, and how does one accomplish the application, and how does one attain distinction? Just as a tree laid down on level ground. A man might cut it with a saw. Mindfulness of the man is established by means of the saw's teeth touching the tree; he does not pay attention to the saw's teeth coming or going. The coming or going saw's teeth are not unknown, and effort is evident, and he accomplishes the application. Just as a tree laid down on level ground.