6) Harmonious Mental Equilibrium (sammā-samādhi)
There are four levels of Tranquility or ecstasy (jhāna), in the cultivation of the four levels of ecstasy (jhāna). Before we begin, it is important to distinguish between ecstasy and the hypnotic state.
The hypnotic state is the result of concentration. It is a state of mind, which is midway between waking and sleeping. One can easily get into this state through lethargy and drowsiness (thīna middha) when meditating. Often this is mistaken for samādhi or jhāna.
Ecstasy (jhāna) is a state where the body is fully relaxed and the mind is fully awake and alert. With full awareness one experiences a state of mental bliss and bodily ease, free of emotional excitements and tensions. The first ecstasy has five parts to it as mentioned above, viz: inference (vitakka), inquiry (vicara), rapture (pīti), comfort (sukha), and stillness of mind (ekaggatā). There are four different levels of tranquility, as follows:
1. First ecstasy – inference, inquiry, rapture, comfort, stillness
2. Second ecstasy – rapture, comfort, stillness
3. Third ecstasy – comfort, stillness
4. Fourth ecstasy – stillness, introspection
These are called ecstasies because ecstasy means, “standing out.” It is standing out of the sensual world. What we call the world is only an experience. The normal experience of the human being is a sensual and emotional experience. When one enters the first ecstasy, one stands out of this sensual and emotional experience.
In the ecstasy, the mind is focussed within and free from all emotional disturbances. Entering the different levels of tranquillity is a gradual withdrawal from the emotional level that experiences a world outside. It is a gradual reduction of the experience of the sensual world. The world or experience that one enters in this ecstasy is sometimes seen as the spiritual world.
Some even see it as entering heaven. Others call it union with God. We, however, call it simple ecstasy, which is a gradual emptying of the mind, or reduction of experience, or a gradual stopping of the activity called “mind.”
As the Sutta says: “Having withdrawn from carnal desires and evil states of mind, one enters the First Ecstasy (jhāna) consisting of inquiry (vicara) and inference (vitakka), rapture (pīti), comfort (sukha), and stillness (ekaggatā).
Then by giving up inquiry (vicara) and inference (vitakka), one enters the Second Ecstasy (jhāna) consisting of rapture (pīti), comfort (sukha), and stillness (ekaggatā).
Then one enters the Third Ecstasy (jhāna), having given up rapture (pīti), while comfort (sukha), and stillness (ekaggatā) remain.
Then one enters the Fourth Ecstasy (jhāna) having given up comfort (sukha), while stillness (ekaggatā) and introspection (upekkhā) remains.
ECSTASY (JHĀNA):
A Gradual Reduction of Experience
As indicated above, this is a gradual reduction of experience through relaxation of body and calmness of mind. This meditation is not something that a person does. If one attempts to do something, like concentration, the effort would only lead to the hypnotic state. One has to remain passive, not active. It is only a matter of relaxation, which is doing nothing. The ecstasy has to happen through a gradual series of withdrawals or letting go of experience.