Post # 78 – Developing World Transcending Wisdom in the Path to Nibbana-

A guided meditation Practice - Part 5

 

This post has the continuation of the Step by Step meditation practice described in Post # 74 to Post # 77, containing the steps 22 to 25 where the contemplation leads to understanding that the present moment experience of the form aggregate arises through body parts of solids, liquids, gases and heat formed from the basic elements of nature. Also the coming into being subsidiary currents of  action  manifesting as colour, smell, taste, sound  and touch as  projective elements and the formation of sense faculties of eyes,  nose, tongue,  ears and  body respectively in the form aggregate.

Step 22

We saw in Step 21 that by contemplating on what we know from Suthamaya Panna about the true nature of rupa kalapa with an abundance of Patavi with others in lesser proportions when they aggregate, give rise to the solid body parts displaying hardness etc. Similarly how Apo gives rise to the liquids, and Vayo gives rise to air and Thejo gives rise to heat of the body.  

We also know from Suthamaya Panna that the new ‘being’ gets prompted due to Kamma Niyama, to re-enact or engage in the habits, traits and tendencies that were brought over from the previous lives. As a consequence, there comes into being, as a kamma vipaka, the respective components in the form aggregate of solids, liquids, gases and heat formed from the basic elements (Sathara Maha Dathu), for their respective functions.

 The Rupa Kalapas and in turn the solid, liquid, heat, and air parts of the form aggregate, inherit the basic nature of their constituents, the four basic elements (Patavi, Apo, Thejo, Vayo). That is the nature of arise stay and cease in rapid succession ( udaya-vaya ).

Step 23

We now contemplate on what Dhamma describes as the sense signals that are reaching the form aggregate.

When the four basic elements of nature, which are merely currents of action, are made to combine due to the causes and conditions that the name aggregate brought over from the past, form the Rupa Kalapas and in turn the solid, liquid, heat, and air parts of the form aggregate.  Because of this combining of the four basic elements of nature, they give rise to subsidiary currents of action manifesting as colour, smell, taste, sound and touch, as projective elements in these body parts. This happens according to Dhamma Niyama. We also contemplate on what Dhamma describes as the process similarly taking place in the other animate formations in the outside world giving rise to solids liquids gases and heat and the projective elements of colour smell etc. in these animate formations. 

In a similar manner as above the Dhamma describes a process where the actions of the Niyama Dhammas (abiding laws of nature) create the causes and conditions for the combining of the four basic elements of nature, manifesting as solids, liquids, gases and heat in the inanimate substances in the outside world, with their respective projective elements of colour, smell, taste etc. These projective elements in the animate and inanimate formations in the outside world reach the living ‘being’ as sense signals.

Step 24

We now contemplate on what Dhamma describes as to how the sense elements (prasada dathu ) manifests in the form aggregate.

When these sense signals are experienced by the   form aggregate, we become aware of them and recognition dawns (Chakku Vinnanaya, Sota Vinnanaya etc.) in the relevant body parts of eye, ear nose, tongue, and body respectively that have come to being as vipaka of past kamma,  to react to such sense signals.

Dhamma also describes that these body parts of eye, nose, tongue, ear and body consisting of solid, liquid, gaseous and heat components formed due to the combining of the four basic elements of nature, have come into being for their respective functions. Also, due to past traits and experiences, there arise in these body parts of eye etc. the respective sense elements (prasada dathu, i.e- chakku dathu, sotha dathu etc.) as a reflective polish in the four basic elements, constituting such body parts.  This reflective polish manifests as a vipaka of past kamma, at the moment of contact and for the duration of the contact of the outside sense signals with the living ‘being’ and ceases upon the ending of the contact.

Step 25

We now contemplate on what Dhamma describes as the sense faculties in the form aggregate.

When the external   sense signals are experienced by the   form aggregate, we become aware of them and recognition dawns in the respective body parts of eye, nose, tongue, ear and body respectively that have come to being as vipaka of past kamma,  to react to such sense signals. Also, due to past experiences, there arise in these body parts of eye etc. the respective sense elements ( i.e- chakku dathu, sotha dathu etc.) as a reflective polish in the four basic elements, constituting such body parts.

Also, when the external sense signals reach the sense elements in the eye, ear, and nose etc. they get reflected to the name aggregate (mind) by the reflective polish in the four basic elements thus manifesting as seeing, hearing, smelling etc. as their respective functions. Thus, there comes to being the sense faculties of eye, ear, nose etc. These sense faculties arise, stay and cease with the arriving, staying and ceasing of sense signals.

Thus, we understand the true nature of the form aggregate as consisting of body parts, sense elements and sense faculties (skanda, dathu, ayathana) with their respective natures of arise, stay and cease.

As I have to limit the contents of each Post to facilitate easy reading, I will stop the descriptions here. We will see the continuation in Post # 79