Agony and Ecstasy

The Five Ecstasies
Before dealing in detail with the different states of ecstasy or mental
absorption (jhāna) as they respectively induce an inhibition of
the corresponding mental hindrances (nīvaraṇa), a description of
the progress of mind-culture (bhāvanā) in the chronological order
of events, will be useful. As the choice of location, object of concentration
and preparation of seat and clothing are entirely to be
suited to the individual’s inclination and character, they cannot be
discussed here in a general survey. They constitute the ‘workshop’
(kammaṭṭhāna); and some guidance from one with a practical outlook
would be useful in directing one’s choice.
A solitary place, the absence of noise and distraction are naturally
to be recommended. The position of the body should be such
that the mind can forget that there is a body, but excess comfort
should not be allowed to induce drowsiness, and a dreamy state
mistaken for trance. A fit body and an alert mind are prerequisites.
There are forty objects of concentration, and one should select
one according to one’s temperament. All of them mad lead up to
the preliminary stage of mental culture (parikamma bhāvanā). The
object to be contemplated is called the preliminary symbol or the
mark for preparation (parikamma nimitta). This may be a material
object like a disk of clay (paṭhavī kasiṇa), a circle of fire (tejo
kasiṇa), an aperture for space or light, or simply a coloured flat surface.
This is just the instrument to bind the thought and to prevent
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