Morgan Gunnarsson:
Another thing that confuses me is how to tell 4th jhana (which has equanimity as its predominant characteristic) inside DN from EQ (the nana)?
One take on the relationship of 11th nana and 4th jhana. Could be wrong, but in my experience there was an uncanny relationship between 1st nana/1st jhana, 4th nana/2nd jhana, 5th nana/3rd jhana and 11th nana/4th jhana. i.e. vipassana jhanas. The more absorbed attention is on the pleasant factors of each corresponding nana (they are all more or less inherently pleasant nanas), the more the experience moves to samatha jhana territory. This may not be the case or even obvious without at least MCTB 1st path under one's belt. At least, post 1st for me, will of mind access to nanas/jhanas and the abiltity to explore and experiment with such new found mental pliancy and malleablity resulted in having this take. I was not aware nor had such access previously.
Don't know if its relevant, but the following tarin quote is cool.
"assuming a norm about the level of phenomenology is to be confused by content. it is content which 'pulls' the attention, because the attention isn't paying attention and so there is the (also content) assumption that it is happening on the level of insight. equanimity doesn't have to be fabricated because it really doesn't matter. im talking about the cause of equanimity. the causeless cause; the unfabricated cause. the whole body means the whole formation. not the assumption of what sensations out of the formation are taken to be body. understand what i'm saying
4th jhana is whatever equanimity shines through. The equanimity which purifies the mindfulness is not neutral feeling, as might be supposed, but specific neutrality, the sublime impartiality free from attachment and aversion, which also pertains to this jhana. Though both specific neutrality and mindfulness were present in the lower three jhanas, none among these is said to have "purity of mindfulness due to equanimity." The reason is that in the lower jhanas the equanimity present was not purified itself, being overshadowed by opposing states and lacking association with equanimous feeling. It is like a crescent moon which exists by day but cannot be seen because of the sunlight and the bright sky. But in the fourth jhana, where equanimity gains the support of equanimous feeling, it shines forth like the crescent moon at night and purifies mindfulness and the other associated states.'
'The equanimity which purifies the mindfulness is not neutral feeling, as might be supposed, but specific neutrality, the sublime impartiality free from attachment and aversion, ...'
not a feeling. not a feature of the field. not content. equanimity is insight." Tarin Greco (prisonergreco)
Nick
Edited once to change a word