Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c17.s2.t6.2

v1.c17.s2.t6.2

1. The first subject of meditation of the Āruppas is ākāsānañcāyatana (=ananta-ākāsāyatana). It starts with ākāsa-kasiṇa as dealt with above¹ with the difference that ākāsa in this case is unlimited extending over the whole cakkavāḷa. So long the conception of ākāsa is associated with cakkavāḷa, though it is unlimited, the adept does not go beyond the Rūpaloka. The adept is to think constantly of ananta-ākāsa, but without any kasiṇa, i.e. without any reference to the ākāsa as extending over a cakkavāḷa or so forth. In short, his mind is to be severed from all conceptions of objects (sabbaso rūpasaññānaṃ samatikkamā),² and hence without the possibility of nānatta-saññā (sense of distinction). By constantly meditating over this nimitta, he destroys the nīvaraṇas,³ develops mindfulness (sati) and concentrates his mind through upacāra,⁴ and attains the fifth jhāna.