Rūpāvacara Jhāna - Mundane Absorption

Mundane absorption is the state of being so focused on everyday tasks that you feel trapped in a cycle. Mundane tasks are ordinary, practical, and transitory. 

Explanation

• Being absorbed in mundane tasks can lead to feeling overwhelmed. 
• Mundane tasks can include paying bills, shopping, and cleaning. 
• Mundane tasks can be seen as dull or ordinary. 
• However, it's possible to find meaning in mundane tasks and make them more interesting. 

Finding meaning in mundane tasks 

• Focus on your breathing and notice how your body is changing.
• Find purpose in the task, such as learning something new or connecting with others.
• View mundane tasks as opportunities to grow, rather than just chores to complete.

Q.1. How can a meditator develop the 1^st rūpāvacara jhāna by reflecting on the earth kasiḷa?

An earth kasiḷa can be made either as a fixture or as a portable one. There are stages of reflecting on the earth-kasiḷa, namely:

1.    Meditator should sit on a seat a span and four fingers high, and two and a half cubits from the kasiḷa disk. He should follow to sit in the position properly.

2.    He should review the dangers of sense desire and arouse ardent wish to attain Jhāna. He should arouse joy of happiness by Buddhānussati Dhammānussati, Saṅghānussati, and arouse strenuous effort by respecting the training.

3.    He should open his eyes moderately.

4.    He should not pay attention on colour and characteristics of the Kasiḷa.

5.    He should focus on the earth Kasiḷa and reflect as (pathavī, pathavī) repeatedly, until Uggaha Nimitta appears. When the acquired sign appears, he can see the earth kasiḷa as vividly as he has seen it with open eyes.

6.    When the sign appear he should return to his own place and go on developing it sitting there.

7.    At the stage of Uggaha Nimitta, hindrances and mental defilements are suppressed.

8.    By reflection continuously, Upacā Samādhi and Paṭibhāga Nimitta arise.

9.    If the sign (Paṭibhāga Nimitta) is stable, he should extend by his will power a little by little until to fill in all direction.

10. By reflection continuously, he will attain the first Rūpāvacara Jhāna.

The first Rūpāvacara Jhāna abandons five factors (Hindrances): sense desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and remorse, and sceptical doubt, and possesses five factors (Jhāna factors): initial application, sustained application, joy or rapture, bliss or happiness, and one-pointedness of the mind.

 

Q.2. Describe the successive stages of development in the meditation on an earth kasiḷa by coupling Bhāvanā with nimitta.

The coupling of bhāvanā with nimitta will be illustrated by the successive stages of development in the meditation on earth kasiḷa.

1. Parikamma-bhāvanā and Parikamma-nimitta

The meditator attentively looks at the earth disk with open eyes, reflecting mentally 'pathavī, pathavī' or 'earth, earth'. From this time onwards, the earth circle that he is looking at is called 'parikamma-nimitta' (the pre­paratory sign), and the meditation that is being carried out is called 'parikamma-bhāvanā' (the preparatory medita­tion).

2. Parikamma-bhāvanā and Uggaha-nimitta

After meditating for some time, perhaps weeks or months, the meditator will be able to close his eyes and visualize the meditation subject in his mind. This means that he can see the earth-disk vividly in his mind as he has seen it with open eyes even though the eyes are closed. This visualized subject or acquired sign is called 'uggaha-­nimitta '.

Although the meditation sign has changed, his bhāvanā does not change vet. At this stage he is meditating on uggaha-nimitta with parikamma-bhāvanā.

3. Upacāra-bhāvanā and Paṭibhāga-nimitta

From the time the acquired sign appears, it is no longer necessary to look at the original earth-disk unless his con­centration disappears. By concentrating on the acquired sign, he keeps on meditating 'pathavī pathavī' or 'earth, earth'.

When his mental concentration reaches the neighborhood concentration (upacāra-samādhi), the acquired sign changes to the counter sign (paṭibhāga-nimitta). This change is very distinct and is easily noticed as the counter sign is very different from the acquired sign. The change is as distinct as taking out a looking glass from its leather case or as a flock of cranes flying out of dark clouds.

The parikamma-bhāvanā is now raised to the level of upacāra-bhāvanā, the neighborhood stage of meditation with the counter sign as its object. The meditation is now at the stage of upacāra bhāvanā and paṭibhāga-nimitta.

At this stage all the hindrances (nīvaraḷas) are sup­pressed, and the five jhāna-factors become quite strong and function their duties efficiently. Therefore the mind is well fixed on the counter sign. For this reason, upacāra-bhāvanā is also called 'upacāra-jhāna'.

4. Appanā-bhāvanā and Paṭibhāga-nimitta

Concentrating his mind on the counter sign, the medi­tator carries on his meditation, reflecting 'pathavī, pathavī' or 'earth, earth'. When the counter sign is firm and immovable, it is made to expand by his will-power inch by inch until it fills every, space in all directions.

Concentrating his mind on this new abstract image of paṭibhāga-nimitta he keeps on meditating 'pathavī, pathavī' or 'earth, earth' as before. If he is an intelligent, quick-witted person, he soon reaches appanā-bhāvanā that is meditative absorption, when the first jhāna arises. If he is a slow-witted person, he must try hard to maintain the counter sign with great care, and if he keeps on meditating vigilantly, he too will attain the first rūpāvacara jhāna sooner or later.

He is now at the stage of appanā-bhāvanā and paṭibhāga-nimitta. This means that the meditation sub­ject of appanā-bhāvanā is also the counter sign of the earth-Kasiḷa.