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**spravka.ua** · 12-19-2010, 05:18 AM

I've been very interested to hear your view on this, srivijaya, in referring to inconstancy, dispassion, cessation and relinquishment as the experiential stages of jhana.

In a recent translation (by Sarah Shaw) of the Mindfulness of Breathing Sutta (Mn.118) the mental qualities are given as Impermanence, Dispassion, Cessation, and Letting Go.

The ferment of thoughts and sensations are aspects of Impermanence, but Impermanence is more than this too.

I accept your relating it to jhana, but I think it is possible to reach a stage of calm abiding meditation without achieving any of the stages of jhana.

The Sarah Shaw translation manages to do away with the term "focus" altogether, using 'contemplating'.

Instead of "the monk remains focused on feelings in & of themselves — ardent, alert, & mindful", the words are 'a monk contemplates feeling amidst feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful'.

And I think that is in accord with your thoughts on the word 'focus'.

References: Mn.118 - http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....118.than.html
Sarah Shaw - Buddhist Meditation - ISBN: 9780415485685

12-19-2010, 05:18 AM	#9
spravka.ua Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 408 Senior Member	I've been very interested to hear your view on this, srivijaya, in referring to inconstancy, dispassion, cessation and relinquishment as the experiential stages of jhana. In a recent translation (by Sarah Shaw) of the Mindfulness of Breathing Sutta (Mn.118) the mental qualities are given as Impermanence, Dispassion, Cessation, and Letting Go. The ferment of thoughts and sensations are aspects of Impermanence, but Impermanence is more than this too. I accept your relating it to jhana, but I think it is possible to reach a stage of calm abiding meditation without achieving any of the stages of jhana. The Sarah Shaw translation manages to do away with the term "focus" altogether, using 'contemplating'. Instead of "the monk remains focused on feelings in & of themselves — ardent, alert, & mindful", the words are 'a monk contemplates feeling amidst feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful'. And I think that is in accord with your thoughts on the word 'focus'. References: Mn.118 - http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....118.than.html Sarah Shaw - Buddhist Meditation - ISBN: 9780415485685
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