Why does Sayalay stress so much on nimitta and jhana achievements?

Why does Sayalay stress so much on nimitta and jhana achievements?

Nimitta to Enter Jhana

Before this, we explain that it is very difficult to concentrate on one object if there is no nimitta. You might want to concentrate on breath. But when breath becomes smooth, breath becomes vanished. Then how can you enter jhana? Some people teach that we can enter jhana by concentrating on breath. This is not easy. Did you know?

Object jhana needs to be very clear and very stable. He can't even move or vanish.

Breath as an object can change at any moment. Sometimes it can be very smooth, sometimes it can vanish. 

When it disappears, the breath object disappears and you easily fall into bhavanga - a half conscious or unconscious state - you fall asleep! So we don't know whether sleeping or in jhana. These two are different! 

Without an object, it is very difficult to enter jhana.

For anapanasati practice, we need clear shine to enter jhana.

For meditation on the framework, the image of the framework needs to be clear on our mind. In our mind, if we can remember and imagine the image of a skeleton, it is called nimitta meditation on a framework.

We have ten kasina objects. For kasina meditation, color objects need to be clear on our minds. Without an object, we cannot practice jhana. 

Where can we focus? Without an object of focus, we cannot enter jhana.

That's why if we practice kasina meditation, the colors on our minds are nimitta. Without nimitta, it's very difficult to focus and be stable on an object for an hour.

Therefore, without a nimitta, it is not easy to enter jhana. When we enter jhana, from first to fourth jhana, concentrated minds become stronger and stronger.

Basic of the Eight-Based Noble Road

Jhana is what we call 'samadhi' or concentration. Jhana is also a true concentration.

Earlier, we talked about the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Spacious Noble Road.

They are all mentioned in the Buddha's first Dhamma lecture, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. 

When you pronounce this Sutta, you'll know this includes ' samm samadhi ' and also ' samma vayama ' and so on, as part of the Eight-Gracious Noble Road. I won't explain further at this time, as it will take longer to do so.

On this Eight Glory Road, samadhi (correct concentration) is also one of its components. This is very important! For those who expect to realize Nibbana, practice until Nibbana, it is very difficult to gain vipassana knowledge without first having concentration as stepping stones. Can you understand this?

For example, we know that vipassana is a study of what is inside our body. 

And what's inside? It's easy to feel sensation. Is that true? We have many objects. We also call this body 'figure', but just knowing this is not enough. 

We still need to penetrate to the inside.

Four elements are also one of a kind, and so are thirty-two parts of the body. Thirty-two parts are including all organs. They are one of a kind. 

Then there are more things that also come inside. So, there are many ways how we need to analyze into our bodies.

Concentrate with Vipassana

The easier way is thirty-two body parts. Can you see it now? Close your eyes; look! Can you see it or not? Can or can not? Can or can not? Answer please! Can you see them or not? Why can't you see it? This is due to lack of concentration!

If you have a concentrated mind, no matter what you want to see on your mind, you can see it. Just look inside your body. You'll be able to see a picture of what you expect to see, clearly whether in front of you or inside the body. This is why we really need to have concentration.

Some people don't need to develop concentration, because in the past they have collected very good parami (perfection). They've been training for several lives. So for people like Her Majesty Sariputta and Her Majesty Moggallana, it's very easy for them. 

Only by listening, they can penetrate names and looks very easily. For ordinary people, even after listening many times, we still don't really know about names and looks, we can't really look inside. I say this is not to blame anyone. This is just what we observe. We need concentration. 

Without concentration, it is very difficult to practice vipassana. So thats why we stress jhana so much.

Sayalay Dipankara