At the end of
AN 9.41, The Buddha declared:
when I had entered into and withdrawn from these nine progressive meditative attainments in both forward and reverse order, I announced my supreme perfect awakening in this world with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans.
Yato ca kho ahaṃ, ānanda, imā nava anupubbavihārasamāpattiyo evaṃ anulomapaṭilomaṃ samāpajjimpi vuṭṭhahimpi, athāhaṃ, ānanda, sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya ‘anuttaraṃ sammāsambodhiṃ abhisambuddho’ti paccaññāsiṃ.
Translation has been keep as forward and reverse order, if “order” process is to be for both forward and reverse, then it has to be translated as “reverse and forward order”, then this reverse order (pre-Jhana) is coarse in loop zero. The forward order (post-Jhana) is the arising of the consciousness process, so fast that Jhana attainder may not even notice it, missing out. The attainments is mentioned in the sequence of anulomapatilumaṃ, not patiloma-anulomaṃ; thus “reverse and forward order” is not valid. In order to stick to anulomapatiloma, “order” would then valid for forward, not for the reverse. In
this post I have introduces the word “mode”, the process is simply much more complex. In sutta central, there was a question by a user on AN 9.42. How I treat AN 9.42 is completely different from what it appears in the sutta, but i'm not going into that; but keeping to its original format. There, I describe
a rough general process of anulomapatiloma . (When I write this post, notice that the title has been changed, very wise; though the discussion started off with validating AN 9.42). There I excuse my self from touching the liberation/release, as to how I would understand it, thus I mention only “V” curve.
Over there, i described this
Sense Base
J1, J2, J3, J4
Infinitude of Space
infinitude of Consciousness
Nothingness
Neither Perception Nor Non-perception
Cessation
From the sequels, if i were to draw a curve in term of subtle-ness, we have a downward slope, a complete negative, a -ve derivatives, now that would be strange. If this is the sequence of reality, then upon one enter Jhana 4, the push will force a one way trip to cessation. How vinnana is going to work would be even more inconceivable. I wander if live would be possible?
Here is the sequence as i see.
Sense Base + B(reverse manner, ie b5,b4,b3,b2,b1); I will ignore this sequence of coarse ‘Infinitude of Space’ to ‘ “cessation” or in fact here is 'suspension’ not cessation, my concern is only validating AN 9.42
A) J1, J2, J3, J4
B)
b1) Cessation
b2) Neither Perception Nor Non-perception
b3) Nothingness
b4) Consciousness
b5) Space
C) Sense Base
Reality phenomenal is either one of J1 to J4 but J4 is preferred, upon exit (A) passes thru (B), back to Sense Base ( C ). What we have is a ‘V’ curve, that is the basic reason why one come back from J1 to J4, and of course b1 to b5, exception on b1 at death.
(B) is a very subtle and super fast process that is mostly goes undetected, even for a person that has attain Jhana 1, though it could but likely to go undetected. AN9.42 after J4 is rather a “Selective” Process driven by the result of overcoming the cause of that specific forward arupa.
b5 is less subtle compare to b4, thus upon exit J4, passes by b1 to b4, enter into b5. exit
Enter J4, exit J4, passes by b1 to b3, enter b4, exit, ignore b5
Enter J4, exit J4, passes by b1 to b2, enter b3, exit, ignore b4 & b5
Enter J4, exit J4, passes by b1, enter b2, exit, ignore b3 to b5
Enter J4, exit J4, enter b1
The process is actually a circle.
Sense Base → Coarse b5–> b4 → b3 (opening) → perception of nimitta → b1 of 5 Sense Base → Jhana 1 to 4
From J1-4 --> b1 --> b2 --> b3 --> b4 --> b5 --> back to Sense Base
Note, I'm treating AN9.42 as it is, a sutta mirror from Maha Vagga like AN9.34. I have some other taught, but prefer to keep it to my self.
Back to Buddha declaration, do take note of this term
“anupubba” vihāra ”
The agama translation for anupubba and anulomapatiloma is in these 5 words, “順逆地入、出”.
This is how I define the mode, in the form of loops.
Loop 0 - a coarse Forward Order-b5,b4,b3,b2 , (pre-Jhana - suspense sense base) Jhana, (post-Jhana) (Arising of consciousness (fine) b1,b2,b3,b4,b5 - missed), Sense Base
Loop 1 - Emptiness heart’s release, coarse b4, b3, b2, (pre-Jhana - suspense sense base) Jhana, (post-Jhana) (Arising of consciousness (fine) b1,b2,b3,b4 – missed; infinitude b5 immersion, exit
Loop 2 – Limitless heart's release , coarse b3, b2, (pre-Jhana - suspense sense base) Jhana, (post-Jhana) (Arising of consciousness (fine) b1,b2,b3 – missed; infinitude b4 immersion, exit
Loop 3 – Overcoming cause of Nothingness hearts's release, coarse b2, (pre-Jhana - suspense sense base) Jhana, (post-Jhana) (consciousness un-established (fine) b1,b2 – missed; infinitude b3 immersion, exit, consciousness establishment (fine)
Loop 4 – Overcoming cause of Sign hearts's release, (pre-Jhana - suspense sense base) Jhana, (post-Jhana) (Consciousness un-established) b1 – missed; infinitude b2 immersion, exit, consciousness establishment (fine)
Loop 5 - Jhana, cessation as in Maha Vagga AN9.34
If you have a piece of paper and pen, draw this “V” curve. Some work that you could do.
Loop 0, first “V”. The left stroke 45 degree down at 50mm length (defined as “forward” representation), a second stroke, without joining the bottom, bottom up 45 degree 20mm length (“reverse” representation). So we have a mirror image of a “tick” sign.
Loop 1, a second “V”, left stroke 20mm length, continue from edge of first “tick” sign, a gap, right stroke 15mm.
Loop 2, left stroke 15mm length, continue from edge of 1 st “V”, a gap, right stroke 10mm.
Loop 3, left stroke 10mm length, continue from edge of 2 rd “V”, a gap, right stroke 5mm.
Loop 4, left stroke 5mm length, continue from edge of 3 rd “V”, a gap, right stroke 3mm.
Loop 5, left stroke 3mm length, continue from edge of 4 th “V”, NO thing continue after end of Jhana; ceased.
Now we have a saw-tooth waveform, a damping one. Prior to drawing this curve, I too, think that translating ekaggata as singleness is a very good choice. But after my post in sutta central, it change; when one question arises. If I were to translate ekaggata as singleness, how does it explain post-Jhana cessation? Is reverse mode arupa attainments has no ekaggata; is it not samma-samadhi?
Singleness postulating that there is a constant flat line after cessation, like a transient damping curve of a servo motor, that finally reaches a constant speed. That is exactly what happen to Mahayana, Theravada do not deserve this same outcome; even if it is not understood in this way now, in time, it will be.
Now, on the same paper, draw half moon curves for the “forward” representation as though they are coming out of the paper; and also half moon curve for the “reverse” representation as though they are out of the back of the paper. Then rotate the paper 90 degree, what do you see? Just like a man circling, climbing a mountain. At the top of the mountain, there is the peak, the end of it. A converging spiral curve; ends at the center and NO-thing continue when it is view from bottom, upward.
Ekaggata just means directing toward one (empty) target , one-pointedness; regardless of if he is at the foot of the mountain, middle of the mountain or near the peak, whether he is at the north east south or west, his heart is only directed toward that one point. One-pointedness, although literally appear to be narrow, but in actual fact, covering a bigger picture, should not be understood as 2 dimensional one single line.
So, this is my understanding of ekaggata, NO-thing continue at cessation, Nibbana. When one says that taking “nibbana object” at cessation, it does not mean anything, that is only for communication. Nibbana is not unconditioned, nibbana process is un-conditioning process. Though the last station of un-conditioning is at forward nevasaññānāsañña, it does not go further than that; there is NO-thing to be overcome, NO-thing to be unconditioned at cessation.
So, ekaggata is one-pointedness!