Nine Mental stages of Meditation

1 Placement

The act of seeking and finding an object on which one will have to place the mind is know as placement. It is the stage where the mind will have difficulties identifying the object. One attains this stage through proper guidance, which one has to learn from a qualified meditator. One must employ the strongest effort to do this.

 

 2 Continual Placement

At this stage the meditator has already found the object but his mind will refuse to stay on the object. Because of this the object could disappear at any time and one's mind will make repeated efforts to find the object. At this stage the meditator generates more effort to place the mind on the found object but cannot place the mind any longer than the first stage. The difference between the first and second stage is in the frequency of placement.

 

 3 Repair Placement

At this stage one would have identified the obstacles which were stealing one's concentration and therefore one develops a technique to straighten or repair one's distracted mind with the help of forced attention and contemplation. The meditator's mind will combat the thief of distraction and will reinforce one's mindfulness to win over the army of distraction. The difference between the second and the third stage is in the recognition of distraction.

 

4 Closed Placement

When the meditator gains some familiarity with the object of meditation without excessive distraction he or she has to refine his or her mindfulness to gain complete control over the obstacles. This is similar to a leader who has defeated his enemy but needs to consolidate the internal problems of the nation. The meditator will be able to closely place his mind on the object for the favorable duration without any noticeable interference. This is done with the help of his refined mindfulness and uninterrupted attention. There will be no danger of losing the object at this point. This is similar to the example of the swords men defending himself against an experienced archer whose seductive wife also tries to trick him. One's mindfulness has reached its maturity but one will still fail to prolong the duration because of the obstacles of sinking and excitement. One should try to prolong the session but should repeat many short sessions instead. Master that stage without failure.

 

 5 Subdued placement

During the previous stage one can only place the mind for the estimated duration but still the danger of obstacles i.e. sinking and excitement occurs. At this stage one develops an awareness which is capable of remedying grossing sinking and excitement. However, because of the uninterrupted effort to develop awareness, this stage will face the obstacles of subtle sinking which has to be subdued with a carefully managed spy of awareness. This should not however be overdone as it can cause subtle excitement. The difference between the fourth and the fifth stage is that at the fifth stage, the meditator will no longer face gross sinking and excitement. Uninterrupted attention is still required. It is said that " when I develop effort, mental excitement occurs, but when I remedy that, mental sinking sets in"

 

 6 Pacified Placement

At this stage, one has already overcome subtle sinking with the help of matured awareness. This subsequently causes one to face the problem of subtle excitement and the meditator needs to refine awareness with the help of uninterrupted attention. It is called pacified placement when the subtle excitement is totally overcome.

 

7 Perfectly calm Placement

During the initial period of this stage, residues of both subtle sinking and excitement will still occurs. With the help of the newly developed enthusiastic perseverance, one will have uninterrupted attention to unify mindfulness and awareness.

 

 8 One Pointed placement

The meditator will no longer find any problem and he or she will be able to place the mind one pointedly while strengthening one's uninterrupted attention.

 

 9 Placement in Equanimity

This is the stage of spontaneous achievement where the meditator requires no effort to meditate. Whether he is walking, talking, or meditating there it makes no difference to the power of his concentration. One can stay in this stage while experiencing complete pliancy of one's body and mind.

 

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