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**qd0vhq4f** · 05-20-2012, 09:08 PM

Greetings to all,

Is the 8th Jhana a twilight of perception where the meditator finds it hard to tell whether he/she is perceiving?
Is the 9th Jhana's "cessation of perception" a mind without conscious activity aka blank?

Yes, neither perception nor non-perception is again a perception. (Ref: Ajahn Brahm's book: Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond)

Beyond the 8th jhana is norodha samapatti, where all perceptions and feelings end. My assumption after some study of documented information/scripture is that the mind as a sense organ is not active during this state. Basically, the mind stops. So there is no rational way for a person to perceive during this absorption. All sensory activities are shut off. Realization should happen when arising from this state; when the mind starts again. A person wakes from this state either as an anagami or an arahath according to books. Naturally, after getting direct experience as to how things build up, I don't think there can be any doubts left in the mind.

05-20-2012, 09:08 PM	#4
qd0vhq4f Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 585 Senior Member	Greetings to all, Is the 8th Jhana a twilight of perception where the meditator finds it hard to tell whether he/she is perceiving? Is the 9th Jhana's "cessation of perception" a mind without conscious activity aka blank? Yes, neither perception nor non-perception is again a perception. (Ref: Ajahn Brahm's book: Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond) Beyond the 8th jhana is norodha samapatti, where all perceptions and feelings end. My assumption after some study of documented information/scripture is that the mind as a sense organ is not active during this state. Basically, the mind stops. So there is no rational way for a person to perceive during this absorption. All sensory activities are shut off. Realization should happen when arising from this state; when the mind starts again. A person wakes from this state either as an anagami or an arahath according to books. Naturally, after getting direct experience as to how things build up, I don't think there can be any doubts left in the mind.
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