Live from Noble Path

With further practice the factors of concentration gain in strength and bring the mind to absorption. Like access concentration, absorption takes the counterpart sign as object. Concentration in the stage of absorption is divided into eight levels, each marked by greater depth, purity, and subtlety than its predecessor. The first four levels form a set called the four jhana. The second four are immaterial states. The eight levels have to be attained in progressive order, the achievement of any later level being dependent on the mastery of the immediately preceding level ... read more of Stages of Concentration 2 ...

A meditation session begins with focusing the mind on a chosen object and keep it there. If the mind strays, the meditator notices this quickly, catches it, and brings it gently back to the object. Doing this over and over as often as is necessary, the mind eventually begins to settle. At this point the five hindrances are likely to arise in one shape or other. They may appear as thoughts, as images, as surges of desire, anger and resentment, as heaviness of mind, agitation, doubts, etc. At times, when a particular hindrance becomes strong, the meditator may have to leave his primary meditation subject and take up a meditation that directly counteracts the hindrance ... read more of Stages of Concentration 1 ...

The wholesome states of mind to be developed can be grouped in various ways. One popular way of grouping is into the set called The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, which includes Mindfulness, Investigation, Energy, Rapture, Tranquility, Concentration, and Equanimity.

The first enlightenment factor – Mindfulness - clears the ground for insight by revealing the phenomena as they are here and now, stripped of all subjectivity: commentaries, interpretations, projections, etc. Mindfulness is basically receptive.

When the bare phenomena are seen as they are, the second enlightenment factor - Investigation - steps in to ponder their characteristics, conditions, and consequences ... read more of What are The Seven Factors of ...