PROGRESS IN MEDITATION CONSISTS OF FOUR STEPS 

1. Association with those mature in spirit (sappurisa sevana) – This is a person who is aware of the fourfold reality of life taught by the Buddha. 

2. Hearing the Dhamma (saddhamma savana) – This is hearing about the Fourfold Reality: Problem of Existence, its Cause, its Solution, and the Technique of solving it 

3. Deterministic-thinking (yoniso manasikara) – Changing from existential to experiential thinking, based on the teaching about impersonality (anatta) and Contingent Concurrence (paticca samuppada) 

4. Reorientation of one’s life to solve the problem (dhammanudhamma patipatti) – This begins the Revolution of the Wheel of Experience (Dhamma cakkha pavattana). 


The revolution of the wheel of experience is an inner transformation of the character of an individual. It is achieved by changing the eight constituents of the character structure, by following the Sublime Eightfold Way. It is a transformation from a self-centred character, to a selfless one. 


This Sublime Eightfold Way begins with a paradigm shift followed by a goal reorientation. From this point onwards, it is a matter of moving towards the new goal, which is a return to the original state of equilibrium that was lost. This return to equilibrium is called homeostasis. 


The paradigm shift is from a consciousness of existence (bhava) to a consciousness of experience (dhamma). In other words, it is a change from an awareness of “self” (atta) to an awareness of “no self” (anatta). 


With this comes the understanding that it is the blind self-centred emotions that create the notion of “self”. “Self” is not a rational concept. When this has been understood by our reason, we decide not to be carried away by emotion any more, but to be standing on reason always. This is the goal reorientation, which means we try to stay calm and relaxed under all conditions, instead of being emotional. This reorientation gradually ends up in a return to the original equilibrium, which is homeostasis. Once arrived at this equilibrium by understanding of the problem and its solution, the mind will never be disturbed again. This equilibrium to which one returns, which can never be disturbed, is the “Imperturbable Serenity” – NIRVANA.