Bagpuss The Gnome:
I am currently reaching third jhana through metta - this is quite rewarding in itself but I seem to be having trouble getting to fourth (or possibly recognising that I'm in it..)
Or possibly a result of both: not being able to recognize it while sabotaging your own efforts by continuing to practice metta AFTER having reached 3rd. The practice of metta that was recommended to you was for the purpose of quieting
piti (i.e. to get
piti to subside) yes? Well, then, once
piti has subsided, you quit focusing on metta, as it has achieved its intended purpose. See?
Bagpuss The Gnome:
It occurs to me that I have 2 options: Bearing in mind that it might be the dark night symptoms (which the jhana smooths out considerably but are still there in 3rd) stopping me getting to 4th, I could do some insight orientated practice like return to my previous practice of body scanning or perhaps contemplate the 5 aggregates or explore the DN sensations. Or, I could figure out how to continue on to 4th.
You have a tendency to over-think these things. STOP THAT! RIGHT NOW, if you want to succeed at attaining your goal!
Bagpuss The Gnome:
If I do insight work, the question is how do I remain in third jhana and do this?
Precisely. So, don't do it! If you want to get to fourth jhana (as it has been described) you have to quiet the mind even further, that is, lose the busy-ness of
sukha, which is an agitating mental factor. See?
Sukha is the last factor to go. So, focus on achieving
that end and leave all else alone!
Bagpuss The Gnome:
If continuing on to 4th (my preferred option), what is the object I should be inclining toward?
A peaceful, quiet, non-agitated mind. Go deeper into the CALM! Watch for the diminution of the breath to help you realize you are achieving this goal of going deeper into the calm. And: STOP THINKING SO MUCH while you're doing this! Do not concentrate on metta; that should have been dropped after having reached 3rd jhana.
Bagpuss The Gnome:
I managed to follow the floaty/billowy part of this this morning and it did indeed seem to lead to something very much like the vipassana stage of equanimity - a uniform tingling/flickering through the body, nothing much happening kind of thing but with a deep unshakable calm.
That deep unshakable calm (sans
piti and
sukha or any other mental disturbance) is likely 4th jhana. Duh!
Equanimity is a factor of mind connected to perception (
sanna). It's something you
learn to do and practice, i.e. even mindedness; not something that just overtakes you as a result of meditation. Equanimity toward formations is a
willed, conscious exercise.
A few little tweeks to your practice and you'll be good to go.